MIRAMAR, Fla. – Broward County deputies arrested a former Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation officer on Thursday after they said she stole the home of a “severely mentally and physically disabled” senior.
Carmelia Regina Newbold, 51, is facing charges of organized fraud and elderly exploitation.
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According to a news release from Broward Property Appraiser Marty Kiar and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the victim, identified as Thomas Edward Chiappetta, lived next door to Newbold on Harbour Boulevard in Miramar.
Authorities said Chiappetta’s “sole caregiver” was his sister and when she died in 2020, Newbold produced a fraudulent durable power of attorney purportedly signed by Chiappetta, giving her “legal authority over the victim and all his assets.”
“The investigation revealed the victim lacked the mental capacity to sign a POA, and his signature was not witnessed by the notary rendering the POA invalid,” the news release states.
Newbold then received proceeds from Chiappetta’s sister’s life insurance policy, his Social Security benefits and was designated the beneficiary of his own life insurance policy.
Then, authorities said Newbold recorded a fraudulent quitclaim deed transferring the ownership of Chiappetta’s home to herself.
“Once Newbold obtained ownership of the home, she moved the victim out of the home and into a long-term care facility where he died,” the news release states.
Newbold was in the Broward Main Jail as of Friday, being held on a $100,000 bond.
According to jail records, to post bond, she’ll have to prove that the funds came from a legitimate source.