VIDEO: Merritt Island Con Man Gets Prison For Ripping Off 79-Year-Old Brevard County Senior Citizen
By Phil Archer, State Attorney // June 24, 2017
used victim's credit cards for illegal purchases
ABOVE VIDEO: Judge Jeffrey Mahl sentenced Lenford Rhule, 42, to four years in state prison, followed by two years of probation after he pled guilty to exploitation of the elderly and criminal use of personal ID information of a person over 65. A number of the thefts occurred at area Publix stores, seen above in the store surveillance video, where Rhule bought cases of beer and even lobster tails.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Judge Jeffrey Mahl sentenced Lenford Rhule, 42, to four years in state prison, followed by two years of probation, after he pled guilty to exploitation of the elderly and criminal use of personal ID information of a person over 65.
In February 2016, Rhule was hired by victim Charlotte Attride and her family to provide home healthcare services during her recovery from surgery.
Assisting Attride in her home, Rhule would also drive her to medical treatments and physical therapy. After dropping the victim off, Rhule drove her car to local area businesses and secretly used her credit cards to make more than 100 illegal purchases.
A number of the thefts occurred at area Publix stores, seen above in the store surveillance video, where Rhule bought cases of beer and even lobster tails.
The thefts were discovered when the victim’s family reviewed card statements and noticed the suspicious purchases.
After alerting the Satellite Beach Police Department, detectives listened in on a phone call from the family to Rhule where he admitted to the thefts and agreed to pay them back.
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“Unfortunately independent home health care providers are not directly licensed or regulated by the state,” said Prosecutor Justin Keen, who specializes in cases involving criminals who target the elderly.
“Be extremely cautious and carefully check both the background and references of anyone you consider hiring to care for a loved one. You will literally trust them with their lives.”
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