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Spring Hill man accused of bilking senior
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Published: November 5, 2009
He claimed to be collecting money on behalf of Veterans Affairs, authorities said.
Eighteen cashed checks and more than $2,300 of lost savings later, Donald Phillips Jr. is in jail on a charge of exploitation of the elderly, according to an arrest report.
Phillips, 39, of 10491 Norvell Road, first met the victim in August "posing as an agent for the VA," said Sgt. Donna Black, a spokeswoman with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.
An employee at the VA office in Brooksville checked the national database and there was no record of Phillips being employed there.
Authorities were contacted by SunTrust Bank in Brooksville, according to the report.
Phillips received 18 checks from the victim totaling $2,350. The victim's daughter received a call from the bank letting her know about the transactions and that the account was overdrawn, Black said.
Detectives obtained copies of the checks and a surveillance video of Phillips cashing them at the SunTrust branch on Broad Street, according to the report.
Deputies also learned the victim was diagnosed with dementia in mid-August by her doctor.
An employee at SunTrust spoke with the victim over the telephone after Phillips attempted to cash the 19th check she had signed, deputies said.
The teller overheard Phillips shouting at the victim, who was "crying and appeared to be intimidated by him," a detective stated in the report.
Deputies contacted the victim and soon realized she had dementia, they said. She told them Phillips had gone to her home to ask for money for himself and promised he would repay her, according to the report.
Phillips stopped visiting her after he realized her account was overdrawn, deputies said.
A branch manager at SunTrust referred all calls to the bank's media office in Orlando. A message left with a company spokeswoman was not returned prior to deadline.
Phillips has been convicted twice of violating a court injunction and also has been found guilty of criminal mischief and driving with a suspended license, according to court records.
His bond was set at $5,000.
Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com
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