Orange County, FL – A woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing $187,000 from her elderly uncle’s Disney 401(k) retirement account. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office took Heather Allen, 32, of Horizon West, into custody on Monday, June 2.
Allen faces two felony charges:
Grand theft from a person older than 65
First-degree grand theft involving over $100,000
According to deputies, Allen diverted a check from Fidelity Investments intended for her uncle, Robert Allen, by rerouting it to their shared home in The Preserve at Lakes of Windermere community. The check was issued on September 26, 2023, and deposited shortly afterward. Robert Allen discovered the unauthorized transaction more than a month later, on November 5, when he received a notification from Fidelity.
When confronted, Heather Allen admitted to the theft, claiming she used the money to pay bills and planned to return it. She made multiple promises via text and phone calls to send a replacement check via FedEx—none of which materialized.
Court records indicate Heather Allen said she’d repay the stolen funds using money from a separate court case victory involving her ex-husband. However, no repayment ever occurred, and her explanations began to contradict. Robert Allen eventually contacted law enforcement after her failure to follow through and inconsistencies in her story.
The investigation revealed Heather had full access to Robert’s mail and computer, and she likely used his laptop to access the Fidelity account and impersonate him.
Allen has since moved to a different address in Hamlin. She was booked into the Orange County Jail, where her total bond was set at $35,000 ($10,000 for elder theft and $25,000 for grand theft).
Heather Allen appeared in court on Tuesday, June 3 and has a scheduled in-jail arraignment hearing on Monday, June 9 at 8:15 a.m.
