Tempest Amerson, Elderly Money Scheme, Nebraska 2013

A federal grand jury in Nebraska has indicted 28 individuals for various crimes, including a scheme to scam elderly individuals out of $20,000.

Tempest Amerson, 23, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is one of five defendants charged in a twelve-count indictment for their alleged role in a scheme to solicit money from elderly individuals under false pretenses. The defendants, who include Yolanda Clemons, 46, of Kansas City, Kansas; Isys Jordan, 23, of Marietta, Georgia; Rosland Starks, 44, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Thomas Whitlow, 52, of Kansas City, Kansas, allegedly called elderly individuals claiming to be family relatives or persons acting on their behalf, and convinced them to wire money to the defendants. If convicted, each of the twelve counts is punishable by 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The indictment alleges that the defendants’ scheme began at least on or about May 31, 2011, and continued through on or about November 1, 2013. The total amount of money wired by elderly individuals to the defendants is approximately $20,000.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.

A total of 24 indictments were returned by the federal grand jury, charging 28 defendants with various crimes.

The full list of defendants and the charges against them includes:

Tempest Amerson, 23, of Lincoln, Nebraska, charged with elderly money scheme in Nebraska 2013
Richard D. Avila, Jr., 50, of Omaha, charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in Nebraska 2013
Lamar Bertucci, 45, of Walthill, Nebraska, charged with shooting and killing a bald eagle and a rough-legged hawk in Nebraska 2014
Carlos Francisco-Hernandez, 22, charged with misuse of a Social Security Number, making a false statement, and misusing a Social Security Card and a State of Missouri Identification Card in Nebraska 2014
Jose Fuentes-Urbina, 31, of Omaha, charged with illegal reentry into the United States in Nebraska 2013

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