2 arrested in scheme to defraud elderly man

An 82-year-old man was duped into writing a series of checks. He was told the money was going to a woman who needed an operation.

By JANE MEINHARDT

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 24, 2000

INDIAN SHORES -- A yearlong investigation into a scam that defrauded an elderly man of $21,000 led to the arrest Wednesday of a Clearwater resident.

Robert Gonyo, 49, of 1604 Sherwood St., was charged with exploitation of the elderly. He was being held at Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $20,000.

Indian Shores Detective Gordon Goodson said a warrant was issued for another man in the case who has been jailed since October on unrelated charges in Hillsborough County. Charles Bagley, 49, of Graceville, Fla., also has been charged with exploitation of the elderly, according to Goodson.

The victim is an 82-year-old Indian Shores man who lived alone when he was defrauded. Police withheld his identity, as is permitted in elderly exploitation cases.

During a 12-day period in August 1999, the man was talked into writing checks totaling $21,000. He made the checks out to a woman who supposedly needed some kind of operation, Goodson said.

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

Gonyo and Bagley are accused of persuading the man to write the checks and picking them up from his house. The woman the checks were made out to cashed them.

Goodson said the woman kept 10 percent of the money while the remainder was divided between Gonyo and Bagley.

"She never saw the man," the detective said. "She was duped and wasn't part of the scheme."

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

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

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