$1M Elderly Couple Swindled by Mom-son Duo

HOUSTON – A shocking case of elder fraud has come to light in Houston, where a 56-year-old woman and her son allegedly swindled an elderly couple out of over $1 million.

Regina Lynn Thomas, 56, of Houston, also known as Nikki Laday, was arrested following her indictment in a fraud scheme with her son, Isaiah Thomas, 38, also of Houston. The indictment alleges that they tricked the elderly couple into paying for fake attorney services, which ultimately led to the transfer of $1 million into Isaiah Thomas’ bank account.

According to the indictment, Regina Thomas pretended to be a nurse and assisted the elderly couple in caring for their parent. She was allowed to live at their home while they were out of the country for work. However, she soon turned on her benefactors, telling them that federal authorities wanted them in connection with FEMA fraud.

The indictment alleges that Thomas provided the couple with what she claimed was an attorney, but was actually an accomplice in the scam. The elderly couple believed they were paying for the attorney’s services, but the money was instead deposited into Isaiah Thomas’ account, where it was shared with his mother.

Regina Thomas made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo, who ordered her into custody pending a detention hearing on May 6. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman as part of the Elder Justice Initiative.

“If convicted, both face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count,” stated the U.S. Attorney’s office. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.