Swindling disabled Vietnam vet lands woman in prison

Swindling disabled vets lands woman in prison
LARGO – A St. Petersburg woman was sentenced to three years in prison Monday for swindling more than $100,000 from a disabled Vietnam veteran. Helga Scott, 59, pleaded no contest to a felony charge of exploiting a disabled adult. She will serve 15 years of probation after she is released from prison.

Scott befriended 56-year-old Cary Gammon in 2004 after the veteran had to move from an assisted living facility that was closing. Scott gained power-of-attorney over Gammon and nearly drained his bank account.

She used the money to buy a house and furniture and pay bills, authorities said. Scott put Gammon, who had a mental disorder, in another ALF while she lived in the house purchased with his money.

“It was victimizing our most vulnerable of veterans,” Prosecutor Bill Burgess said. “She drained his money. He never lived a day in the house.” While police investigated, Gammon was found dead in a lake on Christmas morning 2005.

Police said he had wandered from his ALF and drowned. Police said there was no connection between the drowning and the fraud case. Scott must pay $55,000 in restitution to Gammon’s estate after her release from prison.

-- Chris Tisch, Times staff writer
http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/04/swindling-disab.html