Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, Wire Fraud, Alabama 2023

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Terrance Alonzo Pruitt Charged with Wire Fraud, Bessemer AL, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Bessemer man has been charged in an elder fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, with wire fraud.

According to the indictment, in September 2023, Pruitt executed a Power of Attorney over the victim, an elderly family member, without the victim’s knowledge or permission.

Between September 2023 and December 2023, Pruitt devised a scheme to defraud the victim by becoming a joint account holder on the victim’s bank accounts, removing two payable on death (POD) beneficiaries from one of the accounts, and adding two POD beneficiaries to an account.

Pruitt also transferred more than $500,000 in funds from the victim’s accounts to his personal bank accounts.

Pruitt faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan S. Rummage is prosecuting the case.

Awareness is key in the fight against elder fraud. Reporting from consumers about fraud and attempted fraud is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults.

“Reporting is the first step,” said authorities. “Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses.”

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).

An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.