FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, OH – A 74-year-old woman, Ann Mayers, has been charged with the armed robbery of a local credit union, according to Fairfield police. Mayers, who had no prior criminal record, was apprehended at her Hamilton residence shortly after the incident. She is facing charges of aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence. She is currently detained with a bond set at $100,000, awaiting her initial court appearance.
Mayers, who is believed to have used a handgun found in her car during the robbery, was arrested soon after the alleged crime took place. However, the case took a twist when investigators discovered that Mayers might have been the victim of an online scam, leading them to probe further into these claims.
Family members revealed to detectives that Mayers had been sending money to an unidentified individual. Sgt. Brandon McCroskey, speaking to the local press, acknowledged that in this light, Mayers could be seen as a ‘victim’. However, he emphasized that her choice to allegedly rob the bank with a firearm victimized several others.
McCroskey described the situation as “very sad and unfortunate” if the family’s claims are accurate. He mentioned that Mayers had reportedly discussed bank robbery plans with her family prior to the incident, but they had not taken her seriously.
Experts indicate a significant rise in scams targeting seniors over the past decade. These scams often exploit the elderly’s affection for their family, convincing them that a relative is in dire need of financial help. The abundance of personal information available online has made it easier for scammers to convince their victims of the legitimacy of their claims.
In a related incident, an 81-year-old man was charged with murder after he shot an Uber driver, mistakenly believing she was part of a scam to extract $12,000 for a relative’s bond. The driver was also a victim of the same scam, having been called to the man’s house to pick up a supposed package for delivery.