Two home health aides were arrested after authorities said they stole close to $400,000 from an elderly woman who employed them.
Angela Byrd, 45, and Tanecia Josephs, 25, were arrested Tuesday and each face charges of grand theft on a person 65 or older and exploitation of the elderly, Fort Lauderdale Police said. Byrd is being held on $175,000 bond and Josephs is being held on $35,000 bond, according to online jail records.
Byrd, who was independently employed by the 95-year-old woman for more than two years, stole a total of $341,230 through loans and gifts. Police said Byrd added extra money to her paychecks and wrote additional checks to herself, according to an arrest affidavit.
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Josephs, who authorities believe was dating Byrd’s son at the time, stole $45,355, according to police. Josephs was believed to have been covering for Byrd for a one-week period.
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The family of the now-99-year-old woman notified Fort Lauderdale Police after it realized the woman was paying an “exorbitant amount of money” for her healthcare needs.
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The elderly woman, who required 24-hour care, believed she was paying the aides no more than $15 an hour and did not remember Josephs.
Detectives believe there may be other victims. Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
