Man accused of defrauding his 95-year-old mother in Miami-Dade appears in court
A 72-year-old man faces four felony charges after police said he financially exploited his 95-year-old mother in Miami-Dade, involving thousands of dollars. A 72-year-old man, Manuel Diaz Hernandez, is facing four felony charges for allegedly financially exploiting his 95-year old mother in Miami-Dade. The victim, who was financially independent and cognitively lucid, was nearly evicted from her home when Diaz Hernandez allegedly gained access to her bank account and took about $57,000. The alleged victim was left with nothing and faced eviction, but now has adequate housing provided by the SAO. A judge described the situation as "terrible and egregious" and warned Díaz Hernandez that any contact with the victim would violate his stay-away order, resulting in a re-arrest and detention until his trial begins.
Veröffentlicht : vor 4 Wochen durch Ryan Mackey, Liane Morejon, Andrea Torres in General
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 72-year-old man faces four felony charges after police said he financially exploited his 95-year-old mother in Miami-Dade, involving thousands of dollars.
While in court Thursday, a Miami-Dade judge described the situation as “terrible and egregious” after it was learned that the victim was close to being evicted from her home, with even a writ of possession served.
Investigators found that the widow paid all her bills until her son, who police identified as Manuel Diaz Hernandez, gained access to her bank account, and wiped her out of about $57,000, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
“The woman, who now lived alone in the rented apartment, was self-sufficient, independent, and ambulatory, performing her normal activities of daily living,” a statement from the State Attorney’s Office said. “Although she used a walker for ambulation, she remained cognitively lucid and clearly managed her own finances without assistance.”
That was when Diaz Hernandez took “an interest in her,” persuaded her to give him access to her bank account since he was a “blood relative,” and took all of the money from March to August, according to prosecutors.
“It is always inconceivably sad when a son, or a daughter, or another family member sees an elderly relative as an exploitable target. Too many of our older residents are vulnerable to exploitation,” Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, the expenditures consisted of relatively insignificant purchases such as jewelry, clothing and restaurant visits.
Investigators said the victim was “left with nothing,” unable to pay rent and ultimately faced eviction, but now has adequate housing that was provided by the SAO.
On Wednesday, a woman claiming to be Díaz Hernandez’s daughter stated that the alleged victim is not mentally sound and asserted her father’s innocence.
The judge cautioned Díaz Hernandez that any contact with the victim would constitute a violation of the stay-away order, resulting in a re-arrest and detention until his trial begins.
Fernandez Rundle added that the unit that deals with these cases has identified hundreds of potential victims in Miami-Dade County and filed over 75 cases. To report a case of elderly exploitation, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
Themen: Crime