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On September 2nd, 2025, deputies launched an elderly exploitation investigation after allegations that a caregiver had stolen thousands of dollars from a vulnerable 95-year-old woman by making unauthorized purchases and cash withdrawals using her credit card. >> United, >> what is this about? >> Is there any children? Are there any children in the house? You already you already know what this is about. >> Ain't nobody got to tell. You already know what >> I can see in your face. >> You want us to leave the door locked? How do we do this? >> Can I call my family and let them know what's going on? >> Do everything in one minute. Just do me a favor. Put your hands together like you're praying. >> Where's your Yeah, put >> this hurt your neck. >> Okay. Cuz I'm really trying not to hurt you. >> Do you want me to >> Where's your um Where's your phone? >> It's in the room. >> You want me to grab it for you? >> Yes, please. >> In the room here? >> Yeah. Grab it. What kind of phone is it? >> On top of the bed. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, the people who explain all of it. >> I can call somebody for you. Do you know their numbers or do you want to look them up? >> It's my mom, but I don't know if you want to call her. >> Oh, how like this. >> Perfect. I got you. There we go. >> He's locking it so it doesn't get tighter on you. >> Okay. >> All right. Let's head over to the car. >> Take a ride to the station. >> Yeah. >> Do you need anything from me? >> Do you need anything from me? >> Yeah, we're going to have a conversation at the station. I'm detected for checker, but we'll get to that when we get back. >> Can I change my slippers? I don't like this. >> They're going to get you're going to get some new slippers. So, don't worry. >> When we take you, you're going to get new slippers. So, >> let's go back to the back of my car. I'm going to turn you back. You want the seat belt on or >> so. >> Mhm. Like I said, I'm Detective Kacheco. >> Nice to meet you. >> Nice to meet you. You have any idea why we're here today? >> I don't know what's going on. >> Okay, let me just confirm some basic information for you. Okay. >> Mhm. >> So, I'm going to check. >> Yeah. I am in charge of investigating a case. >> Mhm. >> Right now, you're currently under arrest >> for what? uh elderly exploitation, fraudulent use of a credit card, and fraudulent use of personal identifying information, which also falls under that credit card. >> Okay. >> Okay. I want to talk to you about the situation, but I have to read you your rights first. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> You have the right to remain silent and to refuse to answer questions. Anything you say can and may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to an attorney before talking to me and to have an attorney here with you during questioning or now or in the future. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. >> Okay. >> Knowing and understanding your rights, are you willing to speak to me now without an attorney present? >> Yes. >> Can you tell me about your relationship with her? >> Basically, I used to take care of her. >> I used to, you know, bathe her, do everything what needs to be done as an elderly >> as her home health aid. >> Home health aid. Yes. >> Okay. It was that under value care or under seeds home. >> That was under seeds home. Yes. >> Okay. Uh, until when were you her home health aid? >> Until April 2025. I started Damn, what was this boy? Last year, two years ago, I think it was, you know, I can't even remember. I think I think I was with her for almost two years. I started I think it was Oh crap. What year was the pandemic? 21 >> 2020 2021. 2021. >> Yeah. >> Was I in between there [laughter] too? I don't No, not the pandemic. It was after the pandemic >> cuz I was I was working at a um oh gosh, a cleaning facility in Bokeh >> and then they fired me because remember they had to get rid of everybody who was working as um cleaning people because they didn't want people to come in their homes and clean when during the pandemic. Right >> after that, I end up with Seeds Home Healthare, but it was a different one before that before them. >> Oh gosh, what was the name of her? But she, what did happen was when I was working with her, she got sick and she sold the company to Seeds Home Care. >> So I was working with her for a year first and when she got sick, she sold the company to Seeds Home Care. After that, she hold on to me and she kept me kept me working and doing what I was supposed to do with her basically. What were um some of your responsibilities with us? >> My responsibility was making sure to take care of her, clean her, bait her. If I needed to go grocery shopping, of course, she would give me the card and we go grocery shopping and I pick up groceries for her. Um do errands for her. Anything she wanted, that's what that's what I fall into category, right? And um that's was the basic things about that. Um, again, taking care of her and making sure she's okay, making sure she don't fall. Um, I was there, you know, eight hours a day. Sometimes, sometimes I I would be there a little longer. Depends on how she want me to. I take her to a doctor's appointment. I was her caregiver basically for that almost two years being with her >> pretty much 8 hours a day. So, all day you >> sometimes. It all depended sometimes because sometimes, but what I mean is when she has to go doctor's appointment, I would stay the day with her because I got to take her to the doctor, bring her back, make sure she's okay. cuz I used to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner for her every day because she's a she's a lady. She likes homemade cooking food. That's what she likes. She don't like to buy food outside and bring it in or whatever like fast food or anything, >> you know? She doesn't like all of that stuff. Once in a blue moon, she would order a pizza and the people would come and drop it off, etc., etc., and do what they supposed to do at that point of time. So, okay. >> I mean, that's how that's how my relationship was with her. >> Gotcha. >> Right. So when you would go grocery shopping, would you pay for it and then she'd reimburse you or >> No, she would give me the credit card and I would use it to pay for the grocery shopping and bring back all the receipts for her basically and give it to her in her hand. >> Okay. >> Basically. >> Did you ever use her car to buy anything for yourself? >> Honestly, maybe once or twice, but that was it. I didn't do any. And I put gas in the car. >> For what kind of stuff? >> Like for um basically what did we what did we buy? like um sometimes she would send me to Ross to pick up a pillow or I would just pick up one little two little items and that's it. Not much to talk about and that was it basically. >> Okay. >> So, >> did you order or did you open a Door Dash account with her credit card? >> No, I didn't. I didn't open no accounts with her credit card. >> So, she said I opened a Door Dash account with her credit card. >> Well, no, there is a Door Dash account under your name. >> That's my Yeah, that was her address. That was mine because we was ordering food sometimes. Sometimes she would let me order food for her. >> Okay. >> But once in a while, not all the time. >> For her or for yourself? >> For both of us. I would order for both of us cuz she would say, "Well, you want to order some food?" Sometimes, not all the time. Again, as I say, sometimes, not all the time. So, >> okay. What about um ATM withdrawals? >> Well, maybe I did it one time, but that was it. I can't really remember what I did. Sometimes I'm just cuz sometimes >> listen, can I tell you I appreciate you being honest with me because a lot of times we sit in this room and people are not honest and they lie through their teeth. So I do appreciate that. But I'm telling you the truth. So >> let's let While we're being honest, I really appreciate it. Let's just lay it all out. How many times do you think you went to the ATM >> to take out cash? >> A couple of times >> like more than two. More than three. >> Maybe three or four times. >> Okay. You remember how much you would take out, give or take? >> Maybe $100, $120. nothing over $200 or $300. >> Okay. >> That's all I would do. >> Was that just you were under hard times or you know >> basically kind of because you remember what possessed me to do it is because sometimes working with these old people, don't don't get me wrong, they get you a little frustrated. >> Okay. >> Um if you understand what I mean. Sometimes she would just sometimes she would have me going out all day just to pick up items for her. If she don't like this, I have to go back out and pick up another one. If she don't like that, okay, well, this is not what I want. You have to go back and take it back and get it done. But this is how the old people acts. If I bring back something that's wrong, she said, "Take it back. Refund your money and get something else." >> But it's frustrating being working with her every single day. I work with her seven days a week. >> I I will tell you, I took a couple statements from her and she is uh she has a character. She has a character. I'll tell you that much. She's a strong personality. She does have a strong personality, but the problem is sometimes she just makes you nuts. >> And again, I work with her seven days a week. And all she used to want was me, me, me. She never wanted nobody else. >> No other care. >> No other caregivers to come in. And every time other people would come in, she would quarrel with me. She would argue with me. Why? Why do you have to go? Don't go. Stay here with me. I don't like She doesn't like the characters. Um, how how can I stuff? How can I What do I call you, detective? >> PCO. Yeah, sure. >> Can I call you by your first name? >> Jordan. >> Jordan. Thank you, Jordan. >> Sure. >> Sometimes she have sometimes when I have to take time off to be with my family because I have my mother and my father. >> Those are the only two people that I have. I lost my brother two years ago. >> I lost my brother two years ago. >> I'm sorry to hear that >> because he was sick. And it it hurts because sometimes I couldn't even spend time with them because she only wanted me every day. Every day it's like Michelle, you're not leaving me. You're not leaving me. Sometimes I had to lie to her to tell her, "Look, I have somebody coming in." Blah, blah, blah. Whatever. Whatever. She's like, "No, you can't have anybody else. You have to be here with me." >> I took she was very demanding and very controlling. >> Although she was 90s something years old and even though she was like a grandmother to me, a great grandmother, >> right? You understand? Every >> You had a close relationship. >> We had a we had a damn close relationship. And the thing about it is again, as I said, I have my mother and my father. Those are the only two people I have. >> So when you would get frustrated like that, was that kind of like your way of getting back at her kind of for the frustration or >> sometimes, not all the time. And you know, honestly, Jordan, I I regret everything. >> And again, as I said, she only wanted me. Again, I couldn't go out with my parents. I couldn't do anything because again she only wanted me. >> So you kind of consumed your life. >> So I kind Exactly. For the two years, for the past two years, I consumed my life with her. Everything, anything she wanted, even if I was home or Michelle, don't forget to pick up so and so and so and so. Don't forget to get so and so and so and so. That's how I used to be. I didn't even have a car, Jordan. Sometimes my other car would shut down. I had to walk to work from where I live to where she >> North Lauderdale. >> From North Lauderdale to Tamarak. Yes. That is like >> Yes, John. I had it to walk. I had even one couple of times in the rain I had to walk to work. I left home at 8:00 in the morning. I had to be there for 8:00. I left home at 6:00. I reached there exactly 8:00. It took me 2 hours to walk from where I live in just to be with her. >> That's tough. >> I took care of her with all everything I had, Jordan. And this is what she's doing to me to begin with. Well, I mean, I I can see from your point of view that it's it's a lot. It might have been overwhelming at the time, but let's let's call it what it is, right? You you were doing some stuff that you shouldn't be doing. >> It's true. And I and I tell you as it is and and it's true. >> And look, we're all human. We do things we're not supposed to do. >> Exactly. It's a mistake. All of this is just a mistake. I mean, again, as I said, and then when they fire me, my head went up the roof. And what had happened two weeks ago? My father worked for the city of Fort Lauderdale and he fell off the truck. So he he damaged his leg. I took care of her the best that I could have take care of her. >> She never Yeah. She never said that you mistreated her or anything like that. I'll give you that much. >> I never she said that you were good and and >> she was surprised when her daughter had brought her all this stuff on her account and showed her what happened. You know, >> it was it was a lot for her. Um >> um again, as I said, I regretted it. It was a mistake. I mean, I would never do that again to anybody in my life. I mean, >> let me ask you if you um because there's a lot. If you had to add it all up, do you know how much more or less it was? >> I can't remember. Honestly, I don't know how much it is. Maybe it might be about5 or $6,000. I I don't know. I'm just guessing. >> Right. No, I don't expect you to know exactly. >> I don't know exactly. I'm just saying >> like a ballpark number. You think it's probably that much? >> I I don't know. I don't know. I really don't know. >> Would you be willing to pay it back to her? >> I would pay her back if you want me. I could do a payment plan and pay her back if you want me to. >> That would be through the courts later if if you know that's something that you could you could um bring up >> arrange with them. Let them know that you'd be willing to pay it back. My uh my mother-in-law is actually a home health aid in Miami >> and yeah, I hear some of the same issues that you're having. Um, listen, it's I I can't go back in Monday morning quarterback and say, "You should have done this and you should have done that." I know. I know it. It's just one of those. It's just one of those days. So, >> but >> if we look at it, and I believe in calling a spade a spade, and it is what it is. >> You You did steal from her, used her information, and stole from her. I mean, that's pretty bad. >> That's my that that's on mine. That's on me. >> So, now there's just consequences, and you'll face them and move forward and hopefully learn and grow. >> Okay? You know, but I I appreciate you being honest and >> and just basically it probably feels good to get it off your chest. >> Yes, it does. >> Yeah. I imagine when when I saw your face at the door, I I could tell you knew what was going on. You you already knew what was happening. >> I'm just >> So, I'm glad you were able to get it off your chest at least. So, give me a few and I'll be back. She was charged with grand theft, illegal use of a credit card, fraudulent use of another person's identification without consent, and exploitation of an elderly person involving less than $20,000. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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