DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — Detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Deerfield Beach woman who they say posed as a caregiver to exploit elderly victims and steal thousands of dollars.
Jail records show Jamisha Shamari Sylvain, 26, was arrested following an investigation by the BSO Deerfield Beach District.
In early October, detectives said they received a report that a senior living at the B’nai B’rith Apartments in Deerfield Beach was being financially exploited by Sylvain, who claimed to be a caregiver.
They said that man allowed Sylvain into his apartment, where she accessed his bank card and withdrew money multiple times, totaling $1,600.
Investigators later learned Sylvain was linked to several similar incidents in which she pretended to be a professional caregiver to gain access to the homes of elderly and vulnerable victims.
In another case reported last month, a Deerfield Beach man told deputies that his 78-year-old mother, who suffers from dementia, had also been exploited.
He said Sylvain brought his mother to withdraw cash at least three times in November — $800, $500 and $418 — while falsely claiming to be her granddaughter, according to the report.
Authorities said Sylvain sometimes claimed she was a newly-assigned caregiver sent by a victim’s health insurance company.
Once inside apartments, they said she stole debit cards and requested personal banking information.
Deputies attempted to arrest Sylvain during a traffic stop, but she fled on foot and was quickly detained without further incident, according to BSO.
Jail records show she is facing charges including occupied burglary, exploitation of an elderly person, criminal use of personal identification information, and theft of a credit card and grand theft from a person 65 or older.
Sylvain appeared in bond court on Wednesday, where a judge found probable cause.
Prosecutors said the allegations involve elderly and disabled victims and represent a pattern rather than isolated incidents. They indicated that the alleged victims ranged in age from 78 to 91, including one woman who is blind.
Prosecutors argued that enhanced penalties were warranted, citing the devastating impact economic crimes can have on elderly victims.
Defense attorneys argued the requested bonds were “excessive” and proposed strict pretrial conditions instead.
The judge ultimately set Sylvain’s bond at $108,000.
If released, she will be placed on GPS monitoring with house arrest, ordered to have no contact with victims, barred from returning to the incident locations, prohibited from using the internet, and restricted from contact with disabled adults or anyone older than 65.
Sylvain’s arrest marks the second exploitation case Local 10 has reported on Wednesday. It follows the arrest of a former bank employee accused of stealing more than $500,000 from a disabled woman in Miami-Dade County.
Anyone living in a BSO jurisdiction who believes they or someone they know may be a victim of a similar scam is asked to call the agency’s non-emergency number at 954-764-4357.
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