A 26-year-old in-home caregiver faces multiple felony charges after allegedly draining more than $180,000 from an impaired elderly adult in her care, authorities said.
Detectives with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit arrested MaryJean Small following an investigation into unauthorized transactions spanning an 18-month period.
Small worked as an in-home caregiver for the vulnerable victim between January 2025 and July 2026. Her primary responsibilities included assisting the victim with daily activities and buying groceries and other household necessities.
According to investigators, Small used her position of trust to obtain the victim’s personal identifying information, checkbooks, credit and debit cards, and access to financial accounts without authorization.
Sheriff’s office investigators uncovered the activity through bank records, business files, ATM withdrawal logs, witness statements, and retail surveillance footage.
Among the evidence gathered, detectives found 63 unauthorized checks made out directly to Small, totaling over $82,000. Investigators also located the victim’s payment cards linked to Small’s personal Uber account, surveillance footage showing Small using the victim’s debit card to buy toys and children’s clothing, and a fraudulent online banking profile set up in the victim’s name to execute digital transfers.
According to authorities, the victim does not own a computer, does not use electronic devices or online banking services, and told detectives that none of the payments or checks made out to Small were authorized.
In total, investigators identified more than $180,000 in fraudulent transactions, cash withdrawals, and illicit transfers while Small was employed in the home. Detectives determined that Small knowingly and intentionally exploited the victim.
Small was booked into custody on charges of theft from a person 65 years of age or older, scheme to defraud, fraudulent use of credit cards, exploitation of the elderly, unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, uttering forged instruments, and criminal use of personal identification information.
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