A 26-year-old woman is behind bars after deputies say she used a disguise of compassion to prey on the vulnerable, posing as a visiting caregiver to talk her way into the homes of elderly residents and rob them.
Jamisha Shamari Sylvain faces a litany of serious felonies after the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) unraveled what they describe as a calculated scheme to exploit seniors.
According to investigators, Sylvain’s modus operandi involved knocking on doors and claiming she had been assigned as a new caregiver by the resident’s health insurance provider.
The investigation began in October following a report from the B’nai B’rith apartments in Deerfield Beach. Deputies say Sylvain managed to convince an elderly man of her false identity to gain entry to his residence. Once inside, she allegedly gained access to his financial information, stealing his credit card and withdrawing $1,600.
As detectives dug deeper, they discovered this was not an isolated incident. Authorities say Sylvain established a pattern of using the “health insurance” cover story to lower the guard of her victims. Once she had bypassed their suspicions and entered their homes, she reportedly focused on locating debit cards and securing personal banking details.
Sylvain was taken into custody last Friday. She now faces multiple charges, including four counts of exploitation of the elderly, three counts of grand theft from a person 65 or older, two counts of occupied burglary, and criminal use of personal identification. The arrest report also notes a charge for resisting an officer without violence.
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During a recent court appearance, a judge set her bond at $103,000.
The investigation is still active, and law enforcement officials fear there may be more victims who have not yet come forward. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have had a similar encounter or has relevant information to contact their non-emergency line immediately.
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