Huffman Woman Sentenced for Defrauding 91-Year-Old Victim of $24,887

Holly Galvan Posey, Digital Content Producer

A 71-year-old woman from Huffman, Texas, has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison for defrauding a 91-year-old woman out of nearly $25,000. Marcia Nickette Remedies, a former caregiver, was also ordered to pay full restitution of $24,887.75, the amount she stole from the victim.

Remedies, who had been hired by the elderly woman in October 2022 through a Facebook ad, was authorized to use her debit card only for necessary purchases, like groceries and personal care items. However, between November 2022 and April 2023, Remedies made multiple unauthorized withdrawals, including using the funds at a casino in Louisiana. Surveillance footage showed her conducting transactions that were not related to the victim’s care.

The victim, who was bedridden and receiving hospice care at the time, had trusted Remedies with her financial information. After discovering the fraudulent activity, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office contacted the FBI, which led to Remedies’ arrest. Court documents revealed that she had taken the funds for personal use, including trips to Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel in Vinton, Louisiana, as well as other unauthorized purchases.

Remedies pled guilty to wire fraud, and U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale sentenced her on November 5, 2023. The case highlights the dangers of caregiver fraud and underscores the importance of vigilance in protecting the financial well-being of vulnerable individuals.