Independence woman Amanda Sargent faces serious charges after allegedly scamming an elderly woman of more than $1 million over two years.
An Independence woman, Amanda Sargent, 35, has been arrested after being charged with defrauding an elderly woman she met online. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced her arrest on April 3, following a five-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury on March 26.
According to the indictment, Sargent initially made contact with the victim through a Facebook group that connected people experiencing homelessness with resources in the Kansas City area. Sargent’s first request for money came in late 2021 when she claimed to need help with car repairs. The victim sent a small sum of money at that time, and this began a two-year-long fraudulent scheme.
As time went on, Sargent allegedly made several false claims about needing financial help for various personal emergencies. These included supposed medical bills, rent and utility payments, and even a claim that she required a kidney transplant. Over the course of nearly two years, the elderly victim believed she was helping Sargent and sent a total of over $1 million to her.
The victim later grew suspicious of Sargent’s ongoing requests for money and contacted the Platte County Sheriff’s Office to report the fraudulent activity. Investigations revealed that Sargent had withdrawn all of the funds she received in cash, using them for her personal benefit.
Sargent now faces multiple charges of wire fraud, and if convicted, she could face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count, along with fines up to $250,000. Federal statutes provide significant penalties for crimes such as these, reflecting the seriousness of defrauding vulnerable individuals.
The charges are an accusation, and Sargent is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to pursue cases involving fraud, especially those targeting elderly individuals.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case or similar fraud activities is encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office or local authorities.
