Senior's Missing Mail Leads to Fraud Charges of Nurse (Fl. USA)

Senior's missing mail leads to fraud charges against nurse
By Molly Moorhead, Times Staff Writer
In print: Sunday, June 22, 2008

DADE CITY — Ruby Dudley's guardian grew alarmed when her bills and bank statements suddenly stopped arriving in the mail. So Karen Patterson, who had been hired to manage the 88-year-old's affairs, began digging.

She discovered the mail was being forwarded to an address on Lake Avenue — the home of Marius Cheatum, a nurse at the Edwinola, the assisted living facility that Dudley calls home.Dade City police took over and found a trove of loot at the house.

Dade City police Detective Joe Conrad said he discovered more than $5,000 in fraudulent purchases on Dudley's credit cards. There were more than a dozen ATM withdrawals for another $5,000, he said. Cheatum had a debit card issued in her name on Dudley's account, Conrad said.

Cheatum, 46, is charged with numerous counts of credit card fraud, possessing a stolen credit card and writing a worthless check.

She stayed in jail from her arrest May 9 until last week, when she posted $24,513 bail. Her arraignment is set for later this month. She has pleaded not guilty.

Abridged
SOURCE: TampaBaydotCom


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