A South Florida woman has been handed a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of a catfish scam that preyed on a 75-year-old widow. Lisa Miller, of Miami, orchestrated a sophisticated Facebook romance scam, tricking Linda Bemis into handing over $60,000 under the guise of helping a fictitious military man facing financial obstacles, according to Local 10 News.
Miller, who had earlier pleaded for probation, was denied a chance for parole after it was revealed by the court that she had sold her condo, banking a $230,000 profit, which she then placed in an irrevocable trust for her children. Convicted last month, WFLA News reports that the judge insisted on a prison term coupled with full restitution to the victim.
Bemis, who now faces homelessness due to the scam, recounted the hardships inflicted upon her at the sentencing hearing. "I have a heart condition and it's been very, very difficult trying to get to doctor's appointments or the grocery store," she told Local 10 News. "I have no family and that makes it particularly hard."
The scam was first unraveled when police discovered the funds Bemis intended for "Mr. Bravo," a fabricated military man ostensibly trapped in Afghanistan, were funneled directly into Miller's bank account. Despite denying any wrongdoings as handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car, speaking with Local 10 News, attempts by Miller's defense team for a retrial were denied by Miami-Dade County Judge Zachary James.
Miller, adamant in her innocence, plans to appeal both her conviction and sentence. As for Bemis, the judgment provides a semblance of justice, although the road toward restitution remains paved with uncertainty and the struggles of her current condition.
