A caregiver from Lake Worth, Nerlande Charles, has been arrested following allegations of defrauding an elderly woman and using the woman’s deceased credit cards for a luxury shopping spree. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Charles is accused of racking up $44,000 in unauthorized charges on her late client’s accounts and stealing a Lexus, along with other valuable items.
The scheme unraveled when the niece of the deceased, serving as the estate trustee, discovered the fraudulent activities. Shockingly, the niece found personal belongings, important documents, and hidden cash missing from her aunt’s condo. When confronted, Charles claimed that the Lexus had been a gift, despite it being part of the family trust. Authorities allege that Charles later sold the car, used the proceeds to buy a Nissan Maxima, and kept the remaining cash.
Investigations revealed that Charles continued to care for the elderly woman after the death of her husband, for whom she had initially worked. As the woman’s condition worsened, Charles reportedly took control over her financial affairs. This raised suspicions, leading to the discovery of nearly $318,000 in missing funds from the aunt’s bank account.
Charles now faces multiple charges, including exploitation of the elderly over $50,000, using a deceased person’s identity, and money laundering between $300 to $20,000. The niece further alleged that, on the night before her aunt’s death, Charles made unauthorized online transfers from the victim’s account.
Charles was arrested on Wednesday and placed under house arrest with an $850,000 bond. The court has restricted her contact with the victim’s family, witnesses, and placed limitations on her phone use, according to WPBF 25 News.
