Home Aides Charged With Ripping Off 95-Year-Old Client
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A Broward County woman lived almost a century before being victimized by a crime that left her almost half a million dollars poorer, allegedly ripped off by two home health care aides she thought she was paying $15 per hour.
Angela Byrd, 45, and Tanecia Josephs, 25, have been charged with grand theft and exploitation of the elderly, according to Ft. Lauderdale police.
The woman is now 99 years old.
Police said the two home aides had written themselves extra paychecks and had taken money for other reasons over the time they worked for the woman, whose name was not released.
The fraud began in January 2008 after the two women were hired to provide round the clock health care. Family members contacted police when they saw very high amounts being paid for her care.
Broward County Judge John Hurley set bail at $175 thousand for Byrd and $35 thousand for Josephs.
Byrd, hired from January 2008 to March 2010, allegedly stole $341,230 during that time.
Police said she inflated her paychecks and convinced her employer to approve extra money as loans and gifts. Josephs, a teacher's assistant, allegedly stole $45,355 according to the affidavit.
