Florida official ‘stole 96-year-old victim’s $100k financial savings and blew it on a facelift and new dwelling’ | EUROtoday

The newest headlines from our reporters throughout the US despatched straight to your inbox every weekday

Your briefing on the most recent headlines from throughout the US

A Florida official is beneath investigation after she was accused of stealing a 96-year-old lady’s financial savings and spending the cash on a facelift and a brand new dwelling.

Regina Hill, a commissioner for Orlando City, is accused by Florida investigators of securing an influence of legal professional over the unnamed aged sufferer, which she used to purchase a house and a facelift, together with clothes, automotive insurance coverage funds, dental surgical procedure, and a New Year’s Eve keep at a Miami lodge.

She can also be accused of racking up over $10,000 in debt beneath the girl’s identify.

Ms Hill has not been arrested or charged, however she is the topic of a state investigation that was triggered in February 2023 when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) acquired a tip from considered one of her staffers who had been fired.

According to an affidavit obtained by TV station WESH, Ms Hill first met the girl in 2021 after listening to about her poor residing situations.

Within a month, she had develop into her energy of legal professional, pre-need guardian, and well being care surrogate, the affidavit alleges.

At the time, the girl had greater than $164,000 in her financial savings account.

The lady allegedly advised legislation enforcement brokers she remembers signing “some sort of document”, however didn’t perceive the main points of the authorized papers.

Court paperwork additionally allege that the aged lady advised investigators she didn’t give Ms Hill her consent to make use of her financial savings to safe a mortgage for a house within the Lake Mann Estates space of Orlando.

Ms Hill’s son and girlfriend are believed to be residing within the dwelling, whereas she lives in a separate dwelling that reportedly as soon as belonged to the aged lady’s mother and father, which she allegedly spent a big portion of the financial savings to renovate.

An Orange County choose has reportedly ordered Ms Hill to stop all contact with the girl, who has since acquired a brand new energy of legal professional.

Ms Hill, who has served as an Orlando City Council member since 2014, denied the accusations.

“It’s unfortunate that I have been thrust into these circumstances with these allegations,” she stated, including that she “loved and cared for” the girl “like my own family”.

“I trust in God above all things, and I trust in the process. After 10 years of service for the City of Orlando, I’ve illustrated my love and compassion for my constituents, my city, and my family. I know the truth; I know I’m entitled to due process, in which I trust, and I will await my day in court to prove my innocence,” she advised The Independent.

“The City has been made aware of an investigation by FDLE and related civil litigation involving Commissioner Hill. We are not privy to any of the details of that investigation, nor are we involved or named in the litigation,” the City of Orlando stated in a press release.