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$1.4M Senior Scam Unravels
A Georgia woman has been sentenced to 145 months in prison for leading a scam that tricked over 250 elderly South Floridians into turning over their credit cards, debit cards, and related personal identification numbers.
The scheme, led by 41-year-old Edtronda Simon, involved cold-calling seniors in South Florida, pretending to be from the fraud department of their bank, and convincing them that their accounts had been compromised. Once a senior was convinced, Simon would offer to send a ‘bank representative’ to exchange the compromised card with a new one.
However, a co-conspirator would arrive at the victim’s home, take the credit or debit card, and promise to return with a new one, which never happened. The co-conspirators used the seniors’ credit cards, debit cards, and PINs to withdraw cash from ATMs, purchase money orders, and drain money from the accounts.
The scheme defrauded banks of over $1 million, with Simon and her co-conspirators convincing over 250 seniors from Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Indian River, and other South Florida counties to turn over their debit cards, credit cards, and related information.
On May 25, Simon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Her co-conspirators also pleaded guilty and received the following prison sentences: Samuel Charles – 40 months, Shaumbrica Stubbs – 76 months, Shaquille Robinson – 63 months, Luclesse Vernesse – 48 months, Ian Felder – 52 months, and Dierdre Dixon – 83 months.
USSS Miami and PBSO handled the investigation, along with federal task force officers from the Coral Springs Police Department, Pembroke Pines Police Department, and Plantation Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Rhee Osborne is prosecuting the case, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Croke handled asset forfeiture matters.
The public is encouraged to report victimization and suspected fraud schemes by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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