Deputies say a baby sitter is accused of stealing almost $17,000 from a family in Palm Beach County.
Sheriff's officials say 54-year-old Emmanuella Demaio faces charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft and extortion. She remained in jail Friday.
The Palm Beach Post reports a Russian immigrant family told deputies they hired Demaio to watch their 9-year-old daughter and infant son. Demaio told the family she had power connections within her family, including a New York lawyer who could get them citizenship papers without a problem. They gave her money to pay for Social Security cards and other things related to obtaining citizenship.
When they became suspicious, she said she would start a war with them. So they called deputies.
It's unclear whether she has an attorney.
