ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A woman was arrested and faces multiple charges, including Theft from a Person 65 YOA or Older, after allegedly stealing more than $180,000 from an elderly victim while serving as their caregiver through fraudulent transactions, says the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the SJSO, from January 2025 to July 2026, 26-year-old MaryJean Small was employed as an in-home caregiver for an elderly adult with impairments. Small helped the victim with daily living activities, including purchasing groceries and necessities.
SJSO’s Property Crimes Unit (PCU) detectives determined that Small used her position of trust as a caregiver to access credit and debit cards, checkbooks, and other financial accounts to obtain money and property without permission.
SJSO says detectives used financial and business records, surveillance video statements, ATM withdrawals, debit and credit card purchases, and other online banking activity involving the victim’s financial accounts.
Detectives found the following:
- 63 unauthorized checks payable to the suspect totaling more than $82,000.
- The victim’s debit and credit cards used as payment methods on the suspect’s Uber account.
- Surveillance video of the suspect using the victim’s debit card to purchase children’s clothing and toys.
- A banking profile created using the victim’s information for unauthorized online transfers.
Based on the investigation, $180,000+ in unauthorized thefts, fraudulent transactions, and transfers from the victim’s accounts were identified when Smalls was serving as their caregiver.
SJSO says the victim has never owned a computer and conducted online banking. They further state that the victim denied authorizing payments or making checks payable to Small. Detectives believe that she knowingly and intentionally exploited a vulnerable elderly person.
Small was arrested and faces the following charges:
- Theft from a Person 65 YOA or Older
- Scheme to Defraud
- Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards
- Exploitation of Elderly
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony
- Uttering Forged Bills, Checks, Drafts, or Notes
- Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information
The sheriff’s office says this is an ongoing investigation.
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