LEESBURG, FLA. – Police have arrested three women on charges that they were defrauding an elderly woman in a scheme that that robbed her of $350,000.
Kimberly Bitting,56, Lara Larsen, 57, and Ashton Silvis, 35, were arrested by Leesburg police.
“Bitting, who had obtained power of attorney over the senior widow, abused this authority to issue checks from the victim’s accounts to her own and to her co-defendants, falsely claiming they were for caregiving services that were never provided. The investigation revealed that over an 18-month period, Bitting misappropriated funds and even purchased land using the victim’s money,” according to a police press release.
Court documents identified the victim as Deborah Ford, an elderly disabled woman. Bitting faces serious charges, including three counts of elderly exploitation over $50,000 and one count of organized fraud over $50,000, both first-degree felonies. Silvis and Larsen face charges of organized fraud and intent to defraud, with varying degrees of severity.
All three women have entered not-guilty pleas.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said it was important to protect vulnerable seniors. The case will be managed by the Office of Statewide Prosecution in conjunction with the 5th Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Lake County.