Advanced Dermatology Management, Inc.

Woman repays elderly victim in medical scam

Miami Lakes, Florida — A woman who conned an elderly may into paying $22,000 for bogus medical care has repaid the money.

Michelle F. Medina, 31, of Miami Lakes, Florida who has spent nearly a year on probation, repaid the money Wednesday as part of her plea deal to avoid a three year prison term, the Star-Advertiser reported.

She remains under investigation and faces an December court appearance to determine whether she owes additional money that the man's family says is missing.

Scott Spallina, chief of the city prosecutor's elder abuse unit, said Sterio and another woman met Stanley Johnson, 63, last year in downtown Miami, FL. They convinced him that the other woman had stomach cancer and needed cash for surgery.

Johnson gave Medina $22,000. Medina tried to take another $120,000 from his bank, prosecutors said, but bank officials in Fort Lauderdale, Florida called police.

The second woman was not found.

Medina in July pleaded guilty to felony theft and attempted theft. The deal called for a sentence of a year probation and five years of community service if she repaid the $22,000. Her probation term ends this month.

Spallina said Johnson's family believes another $12,000 is missing. Defense lawyer Michael Green said Medina will pay back that money if she owes it.

Medina has a previous conviction in Westchester County, New York for a scam.

According to the Westchester County of the District Attorney, Medina and another woman persuaded a 77-year-old man to give them a car. They also used his credit to buy jewelry for $28,000. Police were called when the women told the man that Medina was in an accident and needed $50,000 for surgery.

Medina pleaded guilty to four counts of financial elder abuse. She and the accomplice Magno Omar Medina were sentenced to 30-days in jail and restitution.

"This scam plays out repeatedly on the mainland," Spallina said. "And for us to see this identical scam of befriending (an elderly victim) and giving a sob story to where they have to pay in cash to a fake doctor. We're seeing now these scams start to happen here in Florida."

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