After a five-month investigation, a Minnesota man arrested, charged with grand theft accused of stealing more than $100,000 from a Bradenton widower.
Bradenton Police Department say 26yo Benjamin Yakah posed as a woman named "Julia" on Facebook in late 2023, convincing the 77yo widower that “Julia” was a woman who lived in the United Kingdom and was moving to the United States to begin a relationship with him ... after her debts were paid. That's when the 77yo sent cash, money orders, and cashier checks.
In June of 2024, the victim’s family became aware of the alleged relationship and contacted the Elder Fraud Unit.
Detectives learning the bank account that received all of the victim’s money was owned by Benjamin Yakah.
Yakah will be extradited to Manatee County.