DORAL, Fla. — Police in Doral arrested a man for allegedly scamming an elderly woman out of $30,000 earlier this year.
The arrest came after an investigation that lasted several weeks.
According to police, the incident occurred on Feb. 24 when the victim, an 83-year-old woman, received a phone call saying someone was trying to transfer $30,000 out of her bank account, and that the person on the phone could help her prevent the fraudulent transaction “by providing specific instructions.”
Police said the victim followed the instructions, which were to withdraw $30,000 from her bank, a Chase bank located at 10795 NW 58 St. in Doral, and then deliver the money to someone who would be waiting at a nearby Marathon gas station located at 5750 NW 107th Ave.
The victim told police she delivered the funds to a man who was driving a white Mercedes-Benz, but then after returning home, she received a call from the same person who then said there was still fraudulent activity on her account and asked her to take out more money, which is when the victim said she realized she had been scammed and called authorities.
Detectives began investigating and utilized video surveillance from several gas stations, including the Marathon where the suspect met the victim, which led officers to discover the suspect had rented the Mercedes from an individual, which is how they were able to obtain his phone number.
Cellphone records helps detectives determine that Kendall Roman Rivera, 25, was a suspect, which was confirmed by the victim after being shown a photo lineup.
Officers then surveilled Rivera at his home in Homestead on March 17, conducting a traffic stop on him after he left in a 2024 black Honda Civic which had dark window tints, prompting the traffic stop, police said.
Additional cellphone records provided by T-Mobile showed investigators that Rivera had been at his home prior to the crime, at the Marathon gas station when the crime occurred, and then back at his home afterward.
Rivera was taken into custody on Wednesday and brought to the Doral police station, where he refused to answer any questions, police said.
Jail records show he is now facing several felony charges, including grand theft, exploitation of an elderly or disabled person and organized scheme to defraud.
After initially being taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Rivera is now behind bars at the Metrowest Detention Center on a bond of $20,000.
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