Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
Abreaking story from BayNews9. The suspect is innocent until proven guilty but if true, this is a horrendous crime. People in a position of trust need to be held accountable for taking advantage of the elderly and others who can no longer defend themselves.
For the daughter of a patient at Access Adult Family Care Home on 38th avenue in Saint Petersburg, the news went from bad to worse. She had just found out her elderly mother passed away at the home in late May. Bedridden, she had spent her last few weeks in the home, never venturing out. That was the story the daughter believed until she opened her mother’s credit card bill and noticed over 20 charges worth over $2,000 in May. The credit card was used in restaurants, department stores and gas stations among other places- things that a bedridden woman would not spend money on.
Based on the charges, the daughter went to many of the locations, viewing security footage. What she found broke her heart. The videos showed Matos Infante, the owner of the facility, using the stolen credit card! She reported this to the police who started their own investigation, eventually finding 10 other nursing home victims of either credit card fraud or identity theft.
Based on this investigation, 43-year-old Matos Infante was arrested and charged with 16 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, eight counts of identity theft and multiple counts of operating an unlicensed assisted living facility (she had let her license lapse in 2013). The police arrested her at the facility when they were serving a search warrant.
In addition the Florida Department of Health has joined the investigation to ensure the members of the facility were being taken care of.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
The charges will depend if and how they charge Ms. Infante. Most of the theft and fraud she is accused of are felony charges. They are most likely third degree felonies, with each count being punishable by up to five years in prison! Additionally, if convicted she will never again be able to own or work at any type of assisted living facility again.
Have you or a loved one been arrested for grand theft or fraudulent use of a credit card? Then call the Saint Petersburg criminal defense attorneys at Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today! These former prosecutors are experienced trial lawyers.
Blake & Dorsten, P.A. handles all criminal and personal injury cases along the Gulf Coast including Saint Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Seminole, Feathersound, Largo, Pinellas Park, St. Pete Beach, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Dade City and Brandon.
To speak directly with your Clearwater theft crimes defense lawyer, click on the contact button or call them at 727.286.6141. Blake & Dorsten, P.A…when your case matters!