VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A Michigan woman has been charged in connection with a $52,000 Facebook Marketplace scam, officials said.
Demetria Latimer, 59, of Warren, is facing the charges of organized scheme to defraud over $50,000 and grand theft over $20,000. She is being held at the Volusia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
The woman allegedly stole $52,000 from an Orange City, Florida resident in the fake sale of an excavator on Facebook Marketplace.
“Using bank records and other resources, Volusia Sheriff’s Office financial crimes detectives tracked down our suspect outside Detroit,” according to a release from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office posted a video of Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood greeting Latimer at the airport when she arrived in Florida to face her charges.
“I don’t understand,” Latimer said when Chitwood told her he was the reason she was there.
The sheriff told her that a detective had been tracking her down and said, “We don’t like to have our residents become victims of fraud.”
“I’m - I’m a victim myself,” Latimer told the sheriff.
Chitwood told the woman that she could explain to detectives everything that happened, to which Latimer said, “Of course I will.”
“OK, well that’s great, we’re glad,” said Chitwood. “Welcome to Florida.”
The sheriff’s office said they believe Latimer also played a role in laundering money from others across the country.
“The good news is we recovered the victim’s money,” the sheriff’s office said. “Any day another scammer is locked up is a good day. Thank you VSO Financial Crimes Unit!!”
