Elderly Exploitation Scandal Unearthed: 86-Year-Old Woman Accused of Swindling 99-Year-Old Neighbor of $10,000

An 86-year-old woman in Florida has been accused of duping a 99-year-old fellow nursing home resident, who was described as "catastrophically disabled," into giving her $10,000, according to authorities from the Eustis Police Department.

The incident came to light after the elderly man passed away, and his vigilant son noticed a suspicious financial transaction. The son, concerned about his father's well-being, contacted the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Upon reviewing his father's financial records, the son discovered that a $10,000 cashier's check had been sent to a woman named Cynthia Milligan. 

This raised red flags for the son because he had never heard of Milligan before, and he believed his father was not in a state to make such financial decisions due to his advanced age and severe physical ailments. 

The man had been officially recognized as a "catastrophically disabled veteran" by Veterans Affairs, with significant visual and hearing impairments.

Staff members at the Lake Ridge Village nursing home in Eustis explained to the man's son that Cynthia Milligan served as an "ambassador" within the facility. Her role involved assisting residents with their mail, scheduling appointments, and coordinating events. 

This revelation was troubling for the son because it meant that Milligan had access to his father's mail, including checks received from the VA.

When the son reached out to Milligan, she claimed that she believed the elderly man had no family. This further raised suspicions that Milligan might have taken advantage of his vulnerability, assuming that there were no family members to intervene.

Bank records showed that Milligan had deposited the $10,000 cashier's check into her account at United Southern Bank in Eustis despite having only $8 in her account at the time. She then wire-transferred the entire sum to a person named "Deborah Gresham Lobban" just 11 days later.

During their investigation, the Eustis Police Department discovered that Milligan had a history of attempting to cash checks with insufficient funds, leading to the closure of her bank account. When questioned about her actions, Milligan provided conflicting explanations.

Initially, she claimed that the elderly man had asked her to take him to the bank to complete the $10,000 cashier's check, as he wanted to repay her for "saving his life." However, she couldn't provide any details regarding how she had saved his life, and she admitted to spending the money.

Milligan also admitted to instructing the elderly man to mislead the bank teller about the purpose of the transaction.

Later, Milligan offered a different narrative, stating that she had been communicating with a man online who needed money for equipment repairs related to his work on an oil rig. She claimed that this man had provided her with Lobban's bank account information, and she had deposited the money accordingly.

When questioned about her initial dishonesty, Milligan could not provide a satisfactory explanation.

Despite repeated attempts, Milligan refused to disclose any information about the online boyfriend she mentioned during her interviews with the police.

A nurse practitioner at Lake Ridge corroborated the suspicion that Milligan and the elderly victim were not close, and the elderly man had been unfriendly towards Milligan. The nurse expressed concerns that Milligan had exploited the vulnerable resident.

The elderly man was known to be cautious with his finances, making it unlikely that he would willingly give away $10,000.

Cynthia Milligan was subsequently arrested on charges of exploiting an elderly person and grand theft. She has pleaded not guilty and is currently out on bail, with her next court appearance scheduled for October 16.

In another bizarre incident in Lady Lake, Florida, a 41-year-old woman named Amanda Ferragamo is facing accusations of attacking two individuals while they were simply doing stretches by a pool. See detailed story here

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