Nearly two years after charges were first filed, a Lake County jury has delivered a guilty verdict against a Leesburg woman who prosecutors say "systematically drained nearly $350,000" from an elderly, widowed neighbor through an abusive power-of-attorney scheme.
But her attorney, who's also a local politician, insists she was wrongfully convicted.
Kimberly Bitting of Leesburg was convicted on multiple felony counts in August, including three counts of elderly exploitation and a charge of cashing or depositing an item with intent to defraud.
Following the verdict, Bitting, who was represented by attorney Anthony Sabatini, who's also a Lake County commissioner, was remanded to the Lake County Jail without bond as she awaits sentencing.
The jury cleared Bitting of charges of organized fraud and the criminal use of personal identification information of an individual over 60.
"Sadly juries often get it wrong, although we were pleased our client was acquitted on several of the bogus charges at trial," Sabatini told the Daily Commercial."Bitting saved the woman's life and worked as a caretaker for her for years. The allegations against her were false."
The case, investigated by the Leesburg Police Department alongside the state attorney general's office, took more than 18 months.
Prosecutors presented bank records, surveillance footage and a detailed paper trail demonstrating how Bitting exploited her relationship with the grieving senior widow after gaining power of attorney.
According to evidence presented at trial, Bitting used her authority to write checks from the victim's accounts directly to her own personal accounts. Investigators discovered that more than $137,000 of the victim's money was funneled into purchasing two parcels of land in Calhoun County under a private trust bearing Bitting's name.
During the trial, witnesses speaking for the prosecution discussed alleged "psychological tactics." Bitting allegedly restricted the senior's communication with family and threatened to have her declared legally incompetent. The victim ultimately managed to escape of her own accord, relocating to New York to live safely with her sister.
Co-defendant Ashton Silvis previously pleaded guilty to receiving payments from the victim's accounts, while another co-defendant, Lara Larsen, cooperated with the state and testified on behalf of the prosecution
State officials, including State Attorney General James Uthmeier, praised the jury's decision, emphasizing that Florida remains committed to holding accountable those who prey on vulnerable older residents.
"This defendant systematically exploited a vulnerable senior widow grieving the loss of her husband, abusing a power of attorney to drain her life savings, purchase property for herself, and isolate her from family," Uthmeier said in his media statement, thanking the Leesburg Police Department, Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Taylor Chatting and Special Counsel Ana Sacco "for their outstanding work securing this conviction."
Elder financial abuse — particularly involving powers of attorney and trusted caregivers — is an escalating concern.
According to the FBI, tens of thousands of older adults file elder fraud complaints annually.
To safeguard elderly family members, the AARP and consumer protection advocates recommend the following precautions:
Take the initiaive: Discuss financial boundaries and scam awareness with loved ones early, carefully vetting anyone appointed as a financial power of attorney.
Secure sensitive documents: Keep tax returns, bank statements and legal papers safely out of sight.
Monitor relationships: Pay close attention to new or overly dominant relationships in an older person's life, especially anyone attempting to isolate them from family and friends.
Use safeguards: Consider setting up spending limits on prepaid accounts, utilizing monitoring services, or hiring care through bonded, thoroughly screened agencies.
Report suspicious activity: If you suspect financial exploitation, contact local law enforcement or file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
This report updates previous coverage from the Daily Commercial.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Leesburg woman convicted of exploiting elderly widow