Cops: Caretaker's $100K+ Ripoff Included $68K In Loan Proceeds Pocketed After Duping Elderly Homeowner Into Getting Reverse Mortgage On Her Home

In Bridgeton, New Jersey, The Daily Journal reports:

• A criminal case is moving ahead against a Vineland woman charged more than two years ago with stealing more than $100,000 from an elderly woman and her disabled son.
  
  A Cumberland County grand jury in May issued an 11-count indictment against Tami. A. Harold, 51, of the 500 block of North 6th Street. Harold was heavily involved in a 2014 movement to remove then-Vineland Mayor Ruben Bermudez from office.
  
  The alleged crimes took place between September 2011 and September 2014. Millville police charged her in October 2014, and she was released after posting a bond and denied the allegations.
  
  The indictment identifies the victims as Millville residents Mary R. Smith, now in her early 90s, and Bryan J. Smith. Harold had taken responsibility for caring for the family, police said at the time.
  
  A police investigation indicated Harold had the woman “unknowingly” agree to a reverse mortgage on her home involving a loan of more than $68,000, took more than $33,000 from a checking account, and passed about $9,000 worth of bad checks.
  
  The indictment charges Harold with four counts of theft; two counts of misapplication of entrusted property; two counts of forgery; securing execution of documents by deception; unlawful theft or receipt of a credit card; and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Source: Vineland woman indicted in $100K theft case.