PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Detectives with the Pinellas Co. Sheriff’s Office arrested a man they say scammed elderly people out their money and investigators believe there could be more victims.
Justin Crist, 19, was arrested last Thursday for grand theft and two counts of petit theft.
Deputies said three victims have filed complaints so far.
Joseph Kreplick, 91, said Crist approached him at his Dunedin home, back on April 6th. He asked if he could do yard work.
“He said ‘there’s about $2,000 worth of work, probably that could be done around,'” said Kreplick. “And I said, ‘well I’m not interested, and he said, ‘oh no, I would do it for $700.'”
Kreplick said he was going to write Crist a check, but decided to give him cash instead.
“‘I’ll pay you cash but I don’t have it,’ so he drove me down to the Wells Fargo,” said Kreplick.
When they returned to his home, Kreplick said he wanted a list of items Crist was going to take care of.
“Yard clean up, trees, bushes.” he said.
Kreplick said as soon as Crist had the chance, he was out the door.
“‘I’ll go around back and do some work,’ and he picked up the money, $700 in $50 bills,” said Kreplick. “Son of a gun, you know, I knew right away, he’s doing me. So I kind of hopped along outside. He was gone already, so I came in and called the sheriff right away.”
Detectives said that on February 26, 2017, Crist showed up at 69-year old Stephanie Shutter’s Pinellas Park residence after she responded to an ad on Facebook. Crist was given money in advance for the purchase of materials to install an attic fan. Crist never returned.
On March 27, 2017, Crist approached 69-year old Diana Cedolia at her Dunedin home to solicit work. Crist was given money to rent a pressure washer in order to clean the exterior of the Cedolia’s home. Crist told the victim he would return the following day to start the job. He never returned.
On April 27, 2017, detectives located Crist and interviewed him about the incidents. Crist admitted to the allegations.
Crist was charged with one count of grand theft from person 65 years of age or older, and two counts of felony petit theft.
Crist was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.STORIES THAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON-
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