According to media reports: 38-year-old Matthew Messier, a San Francisco Police Officer, appeared in court on Friday after pleading guilty to a felony count of lying about his assets. He faces up to five years’ probation and a year in jail.
- The guilty plea comes after the police officer’s plan to defraud Jean Phyllis Jones, a local elderly woman, was exposed.
- As it was reported, Messier intended to defraud the elderly woman of her entire estate, as she had no heirs or descendants to speak of.
- Originally, Messier was arrested in 2012 for a series of charges including grand theft, elder, abuse and fraud for drafting documents naming himself as trustee and sole beneficiary of Jones’ $700,000 home and her other assets.
Do you have suspicions of Estate Scams in Florida? How can you find out if your parents in West Palm Beach or Boca Raton are victims of financial fraud or exploitation?
Watch for these warning signs of Financial Exploitation in Florida:
- The elderly person has a new “best friend,” becomes socially isolated, never seems to be available or able to come to the phone, or is hesitant to have contact with others unless his or her caregiver is present.
- Unpaid bills when someone else has been designated to make payments.
- Missing property, large or unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts, or transfers between accounts.
- Excessively large reimbursements or “gifts” to caregivers or friends.
- New authorized signers on a person’s bank account.
- Changes in banks or attorneys.
- Unfamiliar signatures on checks and other documents.
- Changes in spending patterns, such as purchases of items the senior doesn’t need.
- Lack of personal amenities such as clean clothes and grooming items.
- Changes in documents such as a will or power of attorney, or a change in beneficiaries that the senior can’t completely explain or comprehend.
- Excessive interest in the senior’s finances by a caregiver, friend, or even a relative.
For more on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from financial scams in Florida click here: http://www.stopfraud.gov/protect-yourself.html
Find out more on Elder Fraud in Florida. See http://www.pankauskilawfirm.com/ for videos and information on Guardianship Law, Estate Planning, and Power of Attorney in Florida.