FLORIDA — Three women are facing criminal charges for allegedly defrauding a Florida senior out of $350,000, according to Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (OSP) and the Leesburg Police Department.
Kimberly Bitting, said to have obtained power of attorney over her elderly neighbor, is accused of abusing that authority to transfer funds from the victim’s accounts to her own, as well as to co-defendants Lara Larsen and Ashton Silvis.
Authorities allege that Ms Bitting issued checks from the victims’ accounts over an 18-month period, framing the transfers to Ms Silvis and Ms Larsen as payments for caregiving services that were never provided.
In addition to the alleged fraudulent payments, Bitting reportedly used the victim’s funds to purchase two parcels of land.
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“Three women, pretending to be concerned caregivers, took advantage of their neighbor, a grieving senior widow, by abusing power of attorney to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said AG Moody.
“Older Floridians should be able to rely on those close to them in times of hardship and not worry about being exploited. Thanks to law enforcement partners and our Senior Protection Team, these defendants will face our Statewide Prosecutors in court.”
According to investigators, Ms Bitting unlawfully moved approximately $350,000 from the victim’s accounts during the fraudulent scheme. Larsen and Silvis are alleged to have benefited from these unlawful transactions.
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Biting faces three counts of elderly exploitation of more than $50,000, a first-degree felony, and one count of organized fraud of more than $50,000, also a first-degree felony.
Ms Silvis is charged with organized fraud between $20,000 and $50,000, a second-degree felony, while Ms Larsen is charged with organized fraud less than $20,000, a third-degree felony. All three defendants face an additional charge of cashing or depositing an item with intent to defraud, a third-degree felony.
The Attorney General’s Senior Protection Team assisted in the investigation. The OSP, in partnership with the Lake County State Attorney’s Office, will handle the prosecution. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Taylor Chatting is cross-sworn as an Assistant State Attorney for the case.
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