WEST PALM BEACH, FL – A 41-year-old Georgia woman stands accused of masterminding a cold-hearted scheme that bilked over 250 elderly South Florida residents out of more than $1 million. Edtronda Simon, of Fayette County, Georgia, allegedly posed as a bank fraud representative to gain access to victims’ credit and debit card information, leaving a trail of financial devastation in Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, alongside the U.S. Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, announced federal charges of access device fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft against Simon. The four-year operation, beginning in 2016, relied on deceptively convincing seniors their accounts were compromised, then dispatching co-conspirators to swap out legitimate cards for fake ones – a promise never kept.
According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Simon would cold-call victims, feigning concern from their bank’s fraud department. While maintaining the call, she allegedly directed a co-conspirator to arrive at the senior’s home, collect the debit or credit card, and obtain the PIN number – all under the guise of providing a replacement. Once in possession of the cards and PINs, the co-conspirators allegedly drained the accounts through ATM withdrawals and money order purchases, racing against the clock before legitimate fraud alerts could surface.
This isn’t a standalone case. Six of Simon’s alleged co-conspirators – Shaumbrica Stubbs, Luclesse Vernesse, Samuel Charles, Ian Felder, Diedre Dixon, and Shaquille Robinson – were previously charged in a separate filing earlier this year. Stubbs and Charles have already pleaded guilty, signaling potential cooperation with investigators. Simon made her initial court appearance in Georgia on September 17, 2020, following her arrest, with further proceedings scheduled in West Palm Beach.
“Elder fraud targets some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” stated U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan. “People who steal from seniors while pretending to help them are the worst kind of criminal because they exploit human trust. We will vigorously prosecute such cases in order to protect the integrity of our financial systems, and to prevent financial and emotional losses to those who can least afford them.” The Secret Service’s Miami Field Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, with support from task force officers from Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, and Plantation Police Departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Rhee Osborne is spearheading the prosecution. The case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed to seniors by increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice. The total amount stolen exceeds $1 million, a significant blow to the victims and a clear indication of the scale of this predatory operation.
Related Federal Cases
- Allen Weintraub, Facebook Stock Fraud, Boynton Beach FL, 2023 · Texas
- Gary Goldberg Sentenced to 13 Years for Child Enticement, West Palm… · Georgia
- Marc Henry Menard, Investment Fraud Scheme, Mineola NY, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Marc Henry Menard, Investment Fraud Scheme, New York, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Stuart C. Cole, Mail Fraud, Extortion, Money Laundering, St Pete Be… · Texas
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News