A Miami woman who was the primary caregiver for an elderly woman suffering from a severe ailment is suspected of using the victim’s money to support regular casino trips while also staying in the victim’s home without paying rent or household expenses, according to authorities.
Charlotte Regina Butler, 65, was arrested Thursday following a Miami-Dade Police investigation into the suspected financial exploitation of the elderly victim, for whom she has tended since around 2018.
According to the arrest complaint, Butler was put as an authorized signer on the victim’s Wells Fargo bank account to assist her with daily care and financial concerns.
According to investigators, subpoenaed bank records reveal Butler made numerous cash withdrawals from the account at many local casinos, often weekly and occasionally multiple times on the same day.
Authorities assessed that approximately $24,000 was withdrawn from casino-associated ATMs.
According to detectives, Hialeah Park Casino records show Butler’s player account activity matches the dates and quantities of numerous of the victim’s withdrawals.
Investigators also discovered that while Butler was withdrawing the victim’s money, she and her daughter remained at the victim’s Miami house without paying rent, electricity, or cable bills, which were nonetheless paid with the victim’s earnings.
Police stated the only money transferred into the joint account was from the victim’s Social Security income or transfers from personal accounts, and there was no evidence Butler reimbursed the withdrawn funds.
Butler was arrested on July 16 and charged with second-degree exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult for between $10,000 and $50,000.
The judge found probable cause and issued $5,000.
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