Trio allegedly stole $350,000 from grieving senior citizen with power of attorney

LEESBURG, Fla. (CBS12) — Three women in Central Florida were charged Monday with defrauding an elderly widow of $350,000.

According to an investigation by the Leesburg Police Department (LPD), Kimberly Bitting is accused of obtaining power of attorney over a neighbor – an elderly widow. Investigators said the woman took advantage of her authority over the victim and wrote checks to her bank account and those of her co-defendants – Lara Larsen and Ashton Silvis.

“Three women posed as concerned caregivers and abused their power of attorney to extort and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from their neighbor, a grieving elderly widow,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody.

Attorney General Moody's Senior Protection Team began assisting with the investigation and discovered that Bitting allegedly stole $350,000 and used some of the money to purchase two properties. In addition, Moody said, Larsen and Silvis received checks as payment for grooming and other work they never performed.

The Attorney General said the three women face the following charges:

• Bitting was taken into custody and charged by the Attorney General's Office with three counts of elder exploitation over $50,000, a first-degree felony.
• Silvis was charged with organized fraud in the amount of more than $20,000 but less than $50,000, a second-degree felony.
• Larsen is charged with organized fraud in an amount of less than $20,000, a third-degree felony.

In addition, all defendants are charged with one count of fraudulently redeeming or depositing an item, a third-degree felony.

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“Senior Floridians should be able to rely on their loved ones during difficult times and not have to fear being taken advantage of. Thanks to law enforcement partners and our Senior Protection Team, these defendants will stand trial before our prosecutors.”

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