Elderly man's swindler pleads to repay victim

The man who took almost $25,000 from a mentally deficient 82-year-old victim faces up to 15 years in prison.

By ANITA KUMAR

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2001

LARGO -- Charles Bagley admitted Tuesday that he swindled a confused 82-year-old Indian Shores man out of almost $25,000, but apologized for hurting the victim whom he said he considered a friend.

Bagley, 51, of Graceville, pleaded guilty to one count of exploitation of the elderly.

While deciding whether he wanted to proceed to trial, Bagley told Judge Horace Andrews he wanted to get a job and return the money to the victim.

"I apologize to the court and his family," he said. "I'm willing to do my part to make it right. I'm not a young man. I don't want to live my life in prison."

Bagley will face up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 18 in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court.

Gary Potts, a Pinellas County assistant state attorney who specializes in cases involving the elderly, told the judge Tuesday that he wants Bagley to serve the maximum sentence.

Indian Shores police Detective Gordon Goodson said the victim, a mentally deficient man who lived alone and whose name is being withheld because of the nature of the charges, was talked into writing checks during a 12-day period in August 1999. The victim made the checks out to a woman who supposedly needed some kind of operation, Goodson said.

Goodson said the woman, who was not involved in the scheme, kept 10 percent of the money while the remainder was divided between Bagley and Robert Gonyo, who also was charged.

Court records also show Bagley accompanied the victim to his bank where they attempted to withdraw $9,000, but were able to receive only $4,000 in cash. In the bank, Bagley referred to the victim as "Dad" and did the talking, records show.

"It didn't really matter what they told him," Goodson said when Bagley was arrested in August. "You could step out the front door, go back in and he didn't remember you had just been there."

Gonyo and Bagley initially contacted the man while telemarketing for various charities, police said. Once they realized the man had memory problems, they victimized him, they said.

Officials at the victim's bank became suspicious and notified Indian Shores police. Since then, a guardian has been appointed for the victim.

Gonyo, 49, of 1604 Sherwood St. faces exploitation of the elderly charges Feb. 20.

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