WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Edtronda Simon, 41, of Fayette County, Georgia, will spend the next twelve years and one month behind bars after being sentenced today for orchestrating a cold-hearted scheme that preyed on the vulnerability of South Florida’s elderly population. The U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach handed down a 145-month sentence after Simon pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
For approximately four years, starting in 2016, Simon and her crew systematically targeted over 250 seniors across Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. The scam was chillingly simple: Simon would pose as a fraud prevention specialist from the victim’s bank, falsely claiming their accounts were compromised. She’d then convince them to surrender their credit cards, debit cards, and crucially, their personal identification numbers.
The ruse didn’t end with the phone call. A co-conspirator would arrive at the senior’s home, promising to exchange the “compromised” cards for new ones – a promise they never intended to keep. While Simon kept the victim on the line, attempting to extract PINs, her accomplices snatched the cards and immediately began draining the accounts through ATM withdrawals and money orders. The operation was designed for speed, hoping to extract as much cash as possible before the banks caught on.
The damage totaled over $1.4 million stolen from the victims, and over $1 million defrauded from banks. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, along with the U.S. Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. This wasn’t a solo operation; Simon’s co-conspirators have already faced justice. Samuel Charles received 40 months, Shaumbrica Stubbs 76 months, Shaquille Robinson 63 months, Luclesse Vernesse 48 months, Ian Felder 52 months, and Dierdre Dixon 83 months.
“Combating elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority,” stated a Department of Justice release. Authorities urge anyone who suspects elder fraud to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The case highlights the increasing threat of financial exploitation targeting vulnerable seniors, and the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious activity.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan Rhee Osborne and Danielle Croke prosecuted the case. Court documents are available on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida website: www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. 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.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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