⏱ 3 min read
A brazen betrayal of trust unfolded in Miami, where a 63-year-old mom and her 33-year-old son allegedly exploited an elderly woman’s age and trust to swindle her out of thousands of dollars. Natacha Maria Lezcano and Daniel Romero are accused of using the victim’s identity and credit cards to make unauthorized purchases and transfers.
The scam began in 2020 when Lezcano started working as a live-in caregiver for the elderly woman. She later convinced the victim to let her husband and son move in, paving the way for the alleged scheme. Romero allegedly used the victim’s personal identifying information to open fraudulent credit cards, make unauthorized purchases, and transfer funds for his personal benefit.
Lezcano is accused of knowing about the fraud and failing to report it to authorities. Romero faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud, bank fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Lezcano is charged with misprison of a felony.
The charges come during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a stark reminder that financial exploitation of the elderly can be just as devastating as violent crime. The US Attorney’s Office vows to continue working with law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who target vulnerable victims.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
