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An elderly caregiver was arrested in Miami-Dade County, accused of stealing jewelry from several elderly women under her care and selling it at pawn shops for approximately $56,500, according to a statement from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
The accused is Jacqueline Denise Robinson, 58 years old, residing in Homestead, Florida.
He appeared before the court this Friday and faces charges of exploiting an elderly or disabled person, dealing in stolen property, and falsifying a property declaration in the pawn process.
The victims: Three vulnerable elderly women
The three victims identified by the authorities are Ellen Linardi, 95 years old; Ella Lowman, 83 years old; and Sandra Swindoll, 81 years old.
The three depended on Robinson for daily assistance with basic personal activities and medication management.
According to the official statement from the Sheriff, “the victims never authorized the accused to take, borrow, pawn, or sell the jewelry.”
The authorities determined that Robinson falsely claimed to be the owner of the items when conducting transactions at local pawn shops.
"The detectives obtained documentation linking the accused to the sale of the stolen property through local pawn transactions, where she falsely claimed to be the owner of the jewelry," the Sheriff stated in the release.
How did the research begin?
The investigation was initiated by detectives from the Pawn Shop Unit of the Kendall District Sheriff's Office, who detected irregularities in pawn transactions and alerted the Elderly and Vulnerable Persons Unit of the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
According to the official statement, "the accused abused her position of trust and unlawfully took jewelry belonging to the victims. The detectives determined that she pawned and sold the victims' jewelry, valued at approximately $56,500, for her own financial gain."
It's not the first time: A previous arrest in February
An aggravating factor in the case is that Robinson had already been arrested in February of this year, accused of stealing a bracelet valued at $1,000 from an elderly woman she was caring for in Cutler Bay.
On that occasion, the victim's daughter showed investigators a video that showed Robinson rummaging through the woman's drawers, selecting items and concealing them on his person.
When questioned, Robinson claimed that she had found the bracelet while cleaning and that she intended to return it.
This case resulted in a third-degree grand theft charge, with a trial date scheduled for June 29.
His attorney in that case, Carlos Gonzalez, told the Miami Herald that he hopes that date will be changed to include the new charges, although he clarified that he will not represent her in the new proceedings.
This pattern of behavior is not isolated in South Florida.
In May of this year, another caregiver was accused of stealing from an elderly woman with dementia in Miami Lakes; and in April, a mother and son faced charges for exploiting an elderly woman in the same county.
Bail set at $180,000 and a possible sentence of up to 30 years
Robinson remains in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) with a bail set at $180,000 with a Nebbia hold.
A new appearance is scheduled for next Monday for an additional review of his bail situation.
Under Statute 825.103 of Florida, the exploitation of an elderly person with assets valued at $50,000 or more constitutes a first-degree felony, which can carry up to 30 years in prison.
Authorities reminded families caring for elderly individuals of the importance of regularly reviewing their finances and belongings, and to report any suspicious activities.
The investigation is ongoing, and it is not ruled out that more victims may emerge.
"The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office reaffirms its commitment to protecting elderly and vulnerable residents, and holding accountable those who exploit positions of trust for personal gain," the official statement concluded.
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