A 59-year-old woman was arrested in Doral, Florida, after being accused of financially exploiting an 86-year-old woman she was taking care of.
The suspect, identified as Mónica Orta, has an extensive criminal record in several counties in South Florida and is now facing felony charges, including credit card fraud and exploitation of the elderly.
The arrest was made on August 26 by agents of the Doral Police Department, after an investigation revealed that Orta fraudulently used the victim's credit cards to make purchases at stores like Macy's and Nordstrom.
A criminal record dating back to 2004
According to Local 10 News, Mónica Orta has a criminal record in both Miami-Dade and Broward, with multiple arrests for theft dating back to 2004. Among the departments that have arrested Orta in the past are the Miami-Dade Police Department, as well as those of Aventura, Hialeah, Doral, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, and the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Despite this history, Orta was hired by an agency to care for the victim, an elderly woman residing in the gated community of Goldvue Estates in Doral. Since July 2025, Orta had been responsible for her care.
A fraud that began with suspicious calls
The chain of events that led to the arrest began on August 21, when the victim received a call from Macy’s fraud department, alerting her to three suspicious transactions. Shortly afterward, a similar call came in from Nordstrom, according to Local 10 News.
The next day, the elderly woman confronted her caregiver, asking if she had been to the mall the day before. Orta denied having gone out. However, suspicion grew when, after taking a shower, the victim discovered that a ring worth $2,500, which she wore every day, was missing.
“Orta left the house without telling her, just when the victim was in the shower,” stated the police report cited by Univisión.
Videos and key evidence
Authorities accessed surveillance videos showing Mónica Orta using the victim's credit cards at various stores in the county. The recordings depict the suspect making purchases totaling hundreds of dollars.
The arrest took place on Tuesday, August 26, when Doral agents intercepted Orta in a Chevrolet Equinox near his home in Hialeah.
During the arrest, authorities found in his possession the victim's credit cards, purchase receipts, and a gift card linked to the fraudulent transactions, according to the police report cited by WSVN.
Formal accusations and judicial process
According to court documents reviewed by Local 10, prosecutors in Miami-Dade County filed seven felony charges and two misdemeanor charges against Mónica Orta. These include:
-Exploitation of an elderly and disabled victim.
- Organized plan for fraud.
-Identity fraud (two charges).
-Credit card fraud over $100 (three charges).
-Credit card fraud for less than $100 (two charges).
The case will be presided over by Judge Michelle Delancy of the Miami-Dade circuit. So far, the police have not disclosed the name of the agency that employed Orta, despite his criminal record.
During the interrogation, Orta claimed that he had voluntarily resigned and that he did not want to work with the victim again because, in his words, she was "rude and a liar," something that was noted in the official report cited by Local 10 News.
Call to potential victims
The detectives of the Doral Police Department have requested that anyone with additional information about this case, or who has been a victim of similar acts by Orta, contact Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade County at 305-471-8477, where they can remain anonymous.
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