A Bloomingdale investigation into suspected elder fraud led to the arrest of a man accused of deceiving a senior resident and profiting more than $25,000, authorities said.
The Bloomingdale Police Department reported that officers Alexandra Morse and Kevin Miller responded in January after a family member reported concerns that an elderly individual was being taken advantage of and had already lost thousands of dollars.
Police allege that Branislav Vasljevic, 42, of Bridgewater, NJ, USA, befriended the victim and gained his trust over several interactions. Authorities claim Vasljevic convinced the victim to sell his current vehicle, promising to facilitate the sale and claiming he needed additional funds to cover transaction fees.
After selling the vehicle, investigators said Vasljevic kept the proceeds, ultimately profiting more than $25,000.
Following the collection of evidence, police obtained an arrest warrant charging Vasljevic with theft by deception. On March 6, officers located and arrested him. He was later remanded to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office HUB pending court proceedings.
Authorities emphasized that the complaint is only an accusation and that Vasljevic is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
