YULEE, Fla. – A woman was arrested Friday, accused of exploiting her own mother for financial gain, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said.
Venetia Mitchell, 62, of Yulee, was taken into custody and charged with one count of exploitation of an elderly or disabled person.
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According to an arrest warrant obtained by News4Jax, the criminal investigation into Mitchell began in mid-May when an investigator from the Department of Child and Families contacted the Sheriff’s Office about an anonymous call that came to the Abuse Hotline.
The caller said an 84-year old woman with an undisclosed illness was being exploited by her daughter, Mitchell, who is also the alleged victim’s power of attorney.
The caller’s concern was that Mitchell had been using proceeds from the sale of her mother’s home, banking accounts and money market accounts for her own benefit.
According to the caller, Mitchell took money from her mother’s bank account to purchase a vehicle and jewelry. The caller also reported that Mitchell spent $200 at a grocery store but there was no food in the home the next day and that her mother has very little money in her bank account.
The DCF investigator provided Nassau County detectives with copies of checks Mitchell allegedly wrote and signed using her name or her mother’s name.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the case is still under investigation.
Nassau County jail officials told New4Jax that Mitchell is now out of jail after posting a $5,000 bond.
Mitchell is no stranger to trouble. A background check revealed she had been previously arrested in Hillsborough County in 2007 and charged with theft and possession of cocaine. In 2005, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged Mitchell with battery. It’s unclear if those prior arrests resulted in convictions.