Woman Collecting Cash For Disabled Vet Duped Donors: Cops

BRADENTON, FL — A 54-year-old Bradenton woman has been charged with scheming to defraud after police say she collected donations from about a dozen people to provide medical care for a disabled veteran she supposedly lived with.

The problem, according to the Bradenton Police Department, is that the veteran in question “confirmed he was not living with the suspect, nor was he in need or asking for cash donations for his medical care.”

The investigation into Maureen R. Maloney’s alleged activities kicked off in May 2016, the agency wrote in an email to media. During the course of the eight-month investigation, police found 12 potential victims who kicked in to provide care for the veteran, the email said.

Maloney was brought into custody on the third-degree felony charge Thursday, Jan. 19.

Police are asking anyone who believes they may have been victimized in the case to contact Det. Nasario Camacho at 941-932-9312. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-634-8477.

No further information is being released at this time.

Booking photo courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department