Florida Widow Loses Home In Mortgage Scam; Police Charge 3, Look for 2 More
As for the other alleged conspirators, authorities are still searching for Clyde Fretwell, 37, of Ruskin, and Joel Hill, 37, of Tampa. Michael Richardson, 34, of Bradenton, is the fifth member of the alleged ring and is already being held without bond after being arrested on June 25 on unrelated charges, police said.
Investigators believe that the group has struck many more bay area victims. For more, see A 'trusting soul' is fleeced (Hillsborough deputies believe Mary Shower is one of many conned by a five-person ring).
See also, Sheriff's office says scam exploited elderly.
Story updates:
- Authorities say woman, 85, lost thousands in home repair scheme (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 9-28-07),
- A fourth suspect is now in custody. See Man Charged With Exploiting Elderly (The Tampa Tribune),
- Clyde T. Fretwell, 37, was arrested by deputies Monday (9-3-07) and being held in Orient Road Jail with bail set at $300,000. He surrendered at the jail on warrants charging him with grand theft of more than $100,000, exploitation of the elderly, money laundering, contracting without a license and committing a white-collar crime, records show. For more, see 5 Charged With Bilking Elderly In Repair Scam (The Tampa Tribune, 9-4-07).
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