Police: woman tells lies to exploit $100k from 84-year-old man

ARLINGTON, Mass. -- A woman was arrested Wednesday after allegedly exploiting over $100,000 from an elderly man over a few months.

"I had no idea. I was completely trusting of her," said Donald Hodgins, the man who was scammed.

It started as friendly relationship between a waitress and customer, but police say it turned into quite a scheme, with tens of thousands of dollars being stolen. Anisa Llega, 24, of Arlington, started working for the 84-year-old man, who does not have a family, about three months ago as a house cleaner. The two met at a restaurant where Llega was a waitress and she formed a relationship with the man to con him out of money, police say.

"I thought she was a poor girl trying to earn a little money here and there working for me," he said.

Hodgins said he was helping Llega financially because of her rough life; she told him her mother was sick and she herself needed surgery for a brain tumor. The story tugged at Hodgins heart strings, and he wrote check after check.

"She would say her mother was sick and needed $500 in medicine. I would give her a check for $500 thinking I was helping her out," he said.

Police said she was just after a whole lot of money.

Police received a tip from one of Hodgins' longtime friends, suspicious of the situation. Police were able to put a stop to the alleged tall tales Llega was telling him.

Officials said the brain tumor story was completely made up. After she got $30,000 for surgery, she went to Miami on vacation. She is accused of even calling Hodgins from Florida and telling him the recovery was going well. She also asked for and got money from Hodgins to make her car payments, students loans and other bills.

Police say she may have taken more than $100,000 from the 84-year-old over time.

Llega is now facing charges of larceny over $250 by single scheme. Her attorney told the judge Thursday that Llega thought the money was a gift. She remains in custody Thursday night and the money left over is in a frozen account.

Cox Media Group