A New York “scumbag scam artist” swindled an aged Florida lady out of her life financial savings as a part of a heartless lottery scheme, police stated on Wednesday.
Shania Baptiste, 25, and two others are accused of tricking an 85-year-old from Daytona Seashore Shores into pondering she received $1 million by means of the celebrated Publishers Clearing Home Sweepstakes, WFTV 9 reported.
The merciless culprits allegedly instructed the senior citizen that she needed to pay taxes and charges up entrance to redeem the prize again in June.
Mike Chitwood/X
The elder twice tried to wire Baptiste $20,000.
Initially, financial institution tellers warned her that wiring cash for that purpose was a rip-off so the suspects allegedly satisfied the senior citizen to go to a unique financial institution beneath the guise that she was sending the funds to her household in New York for house repairs, the outlet reported.
The suspects stole over $35,000, in accordance with Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Baptiste, who’s from Brooklyn, was extradited to Daytona Seashore Airport on Feb 19, the place Sheriff Chitwood delivered a harsh message to the alleged criminal’s face.
“Shania, I am Sheriff Chitwood, and I want to let you know that we protect our seniors in this community,” Chitwood stated in a video posted on X. “That’s why you’re here. I hope and pray there’s a special place in hell for you and Nielson Brooks for what you did to an 85-year-old woman and stealing her life’s savings. And I hope you enjoy your stay here. Welcome to Florida.”
Mike Chitwood/X
Baptiste insisted that she was harmless.
“I’m sorry for the crime that was committed but it was not me,” Baptiste responded.
Chitwood credited the NYPD monetary crimes unit for serving to find and switch the alleged scammer.
Baptiste’s alleged confederate Neilson Brooks was booked into Volusia County jail on Feb. 15.
He posted a bond and was in a position to go away practically three hours later, jail data present.
Baptiste and Brooks face expenses of Organized Scheme to Defraud and Grand Theft over $20,000.
“If we track you down in the continental united states, your a– is coming back here and let everybody see what a scumbag you really are and the way you’re dealing with the elderly in our communities,” Chitwood added.
The sheriff’s workplace recovered $20,000 to present again to the sufferer.
The remainder of the cash isn’t anticipated to be paid again till after the case goes by means of the judicial course of.
However Chitwood warned that the sufferer might by no means see the remainder of the cash once more.
