Los Angeles

Women Facing Elder Abuse Scam Charges May Have Targeted Others: Police

Police say the two women attempted to steal $20,000 from an 83-year-old woman in Cerritos

Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives are seeking the public's help in identifying victims of an elder abuse scam in Southern California, authorities said Tuesday.

Margaret Souza, of Quartz Hill, and Teneca Wilson, of Los Angeles, attended a preliminary hearing Monday at Norwalk Superior Court. Souza, 48, and Wilson, 31, were held to answer charges of attempted elder abuse, attempted grand theft and conspiracy.

Both women are expected to return for arraignment in Norwalk Superior Court Department on March 23. The suspects are currently out of custody on bond.

Deputies arrested the pair in Cerritos on Jan. 22, after "they allegedly attempted to steal $20,000 from an 83-year-old woman in what is commonly known as a 'Pigeon Drop' scam," according to a statement. Deputies say Hill and Wilson met the woman in a Cerritos parking lot and asked her to withdraw cash from her bank account. The bank teller called police and both women were arrested.

Police discovered evidence in Wilson's 2010 Dodge Nitro that lead them to believe there may be other victims.

Court records show that between 2009 and 2014, Souza was convicted on three separate occasions for thefts from elders. The three felony convictions were in Los Angeles, Orange and Sacramento Counties. In 2003, Wilson was convicted of check forgery in LA County.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Richard Kent of the Cerritos Sheriff's Station at (562) 860-0044.

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