Housekeepers accused of defrauding $400K from elderly widow

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An elderly widow living alone and suffering from dementia was taken advantage of by her housekeepers, according to federal court documents.

Prosecutors said Elizabeth Williams, Donna Graves and Gerald Harrison are facing federal charges for defrauding more than $400,000 from the victim.

According to court documents, it all started in February 2014 when Williams and Graves were providing housekeeping services through the company Evo Green Clean.

Over about a two-year period, prosecutors said the trio substantially depleted the victim's money by creating new bank accounts, transferring money and maxing out her credit cards.

The court documents said Williams sold dozens of pieces of the victim's jewelry. They also said Williams and Graves hired an armed guard to monitor the victim's actions and not allow her brother to communicate with her without them being there.

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The documents allege the armed guard put a gun on the victim brother's back at one point and told him he couldn't see the victim without the duo's permission.

Prosecutors said the defendants moved the victim from Indian Land to Charlotte and Mint Hill.

After being depleted of most of her money, prosecutors said a friend moved the victim to New York where she eventually died.

An attorney for Donna Graves said, "At the appropriate time, we will enter a not guilty plea and vigorously defend against these allegations."

The other two suspects have court-appointed attorneys.

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Cox Media Group