2 Elderly Women Bilked Out Of $35,000; Miami-Dade Man Charged

MIAMI, FL — A 37-year-old Miami-Dade man has been accused of stealing $35,000 from two elderly women by convincing them that a relative had been arrested for causing a traffic crash.

Aquiles Brito-Bigott was charged with organized scheme to defraud, grand theft and theft from the elderly, according to Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

"The investigation revealed that the scheme began when both victims received telephone calls reporting that a relative had been arrested for causing a traffic crash with serious injuries," Cowart said. "The caller advised the victims that an attorney was going to assist them in preventing their relative from going to jail."

Cowart said another person posed as an attorney and instructed the elderly victims to Another to withdraw a predetermined sum of cash to be turned over to a security courier who would visit them at their homes.

"Mr. Brito-Bigott posed as the security courier in both thefts," Cowart said. "Investigators are seeking the assistance of the community to locate any additional victims that may have been defrauded by Mr. Brito-Bigott and his accomplices."

To report a tip, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477. Alternatively, visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.