CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A Florida man has been indicted on charges for exploiting an elderly Jefferson County man with dementia and taking more than $2 million dollars from him.
Samuel Bunner, 50, of Spring Hill, Fla., faces charges of wire and bank fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
Bunner is accused of befriending the victim while they were both working at the American Legion in Charles Town.
According to federal prosecutors, the victim made Bunner his power of attorney and gave him the ability to control his financial accounts. Over a two-year period, Bunner sold the victim’s real estate, emptied out his bank accounts and investments, and opened a credit card in the victim’s name. Bunner and his wife then bought real estate, vehicles, luxury items and took vacations.
The victim had cognitive impairment and Bunner assisted with his medical appointments. U.S. Attorney for West Virginia’s Northern District Bill Ihlenfeld said it’s sad to pry on someone older with health issues.
“This is a sad story about someone who worked hard his whole life, saved his money, and then when he began to suffer from cognitive decline, had everything stolen by an opportunist,” Ihlenfeld said in a Thursday statement. “We will continue to do everything we can to protect older West Virginians from schemes such as this.”
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation unit continue to investigate.
The Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of
Florida and FBI-Tampa assisted with the matter.
Prosecutors are encouraging who wishes to report fraud against elders to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) or send an email to wvfraud@fbi.gov.