Elder Abuse Suspect Arrested, Other Victims Sought Across RivCo: Cops

PALM DESERT, CA — Last week, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Palm Desert Station investigators arrested a prime suspect after a lengthy elder abuse scam in Palm Desert, officials say.

On Wednesday, investigators found and arrested Vincent Tarter, 66, in the 100 block of North Broadway, Los Angeles.

He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on multiple felony charges, including financial elder abuse, and is being held without bail. According to jail records, he is slated to appear at the Indio Larson Justice Center on March 11 to answer charges including financial elder abuse, theft, burglary in the first degree, falsifying financial statements, and embezzlement.

"In June 2024, an elderly Palm Desert resident met Vincent Tarter, a 66-year-old Los Angeles resident. Under a false identity, Tarter represented himself as a former federal agent and currently a private investigator," Riverside County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Daniel Milbrandt said. "During his ongoing relationship with the victim, Tarter claimed to be capable of fixing the victim’s legal troubles. The victim hired Tarter and paid him a "significant amount" of money, though no legal services were received.

The investigation began in December of 2024.

"Adult Protective Services contacted the Sheriff’s Palm Desert Station to report the incident. During the investigation, the Palm Desert Investigations Bureau found that Tarter was working in concert with a female identified as Tamela King, a 55-year-old resident of Glendale," Milbrandt said.

Additional charges will be sought and filed with the District Attorney’s Office regarding King’s involvement.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Tarter is known to use several aliases, including Tony, Anthony Costa, Tony Costa, and Vincent Ziti.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available.

Additional victims may be out there, Milbrandt says.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Office believes there may be additional victims of a similar crime involving Vincent Tarter or Tamela King. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call Investigator Grasso at 760–836–1600.

For more information on how to prevent being a victim of fraud, please contact the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at 760–836–1600.