A Houston woman, Regina Lynn Thomas, 56, is in custody after allegedly deceiving an elderly couple into giving her over $1 million. The FBI had previously offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her arrest.
Thomas, who also went by the name Nikki Laday, is charged alongside her son, 38-year-old Isaiah Thomas, with 67 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both are facing serious legal consequences for their alleged actions.
According to the FBI, Regina Thomas misrepresented herself as a registered nurse at senior care centers in Houston, Sugar Land, and Pearland. The indictment outlines a scheme that began in 2017, following damage to the couple’s home during Hurricane Harvey.
Thomas met the family while they were staying at a hotel post-hurricane and offered to help care for their sick mother. The family later allowed her to stay at their renovated home while they traveled outside the U.S. However, while they were away, Thomas allegedly informed them that an arrest warrant had been issued for one of them due to a fraudulent FEMA claim.
The indictment states that she recommended the family hire an attorney, leading them to send wire transfers totaling $1,040,765 to Thomas between 2017 and 2019 for what they believed was legal assistance. Instead, the funds were allegedly deposited into Isaiah Thomas’ account, which he shared with his mother.
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke emphasized the vulnerability of seniors, stating, “Our most vulnerable, our seniors who have worked their entire lives to have a good retirement, are seeing their retirements vanish in an instant by these fraudsters.” He urged the elderly community to remain vigilant against such scams and highlighted the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
Isaiah Thomas was arrested earlier and has since posted bond. If convicted, both face up to 20 years in federal prison, along with a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, aimed at combating elder abuse, neglect, and financial fraud targeting older adults.
