Senior Woman Says Man Convinced Her To Sell Car, Kept Money

A Sarasota man is facing a felony charge of stealing from the elderly following his arrest Tuesday.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested James Sunday, 54, of 800 S. Jefferson St., Sarasota, for stealing more than $4,000 from an 86-year-old woman he considered a friend.

The victim told detectives that Sunday talked her into selling her 2008 Ford Escape in June to Sarasota Ford after he convinced her it was too expensive to drive and claimed they could buy a more affordable vehicle together, according to the probable cause affidavit. Sunday told the salesman who was buying the Ford that the victim was selling it because she couldn’t drive anymore, according to the affidavit.

The salesman informed the victim and Hale that her check wouldn't be sent for about 10 days and during the waiting period, Sunday had called the salesman "multiple times to inquire where the check was and he came into the dealership looking at used cars," according to the affidavit.

The salesman became suspicious after Sunday came to the dealership to look at used cars just days after telling him they were selling the car because she couldn't drive anymore, according to the affidavit.

"It seemed like he was trying to get something out of her," the salesman told detectives, according to the affidavit.

The victim said Sunday took her to an AMSCOT instead of her bank to cash the check for the balance owed to her after the lien was paid off but he kept the entire $4,452, according to the affidavit.

On July 9, Sunday bought a 1998 GMC Jimmy for $2,530 in cash from Martin Boggs Truck Sales in Bradenton and registered it in his name only, according to the affidavit.

Following an interview by the sheriff's office with Sunday, he was arrested and booked into Sarasota County Jail.