A Virginia man has been sentenced to a federal prison term after defrauding elderly victims out of over a million dollars. Carlton Rembert, 70, from Hampton, will serve 66 months in incarceration as United States District Judge Joel H. Slomsky determined last Friday. According to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office, Rembert, along with his sister Gloria Byars and others, participated in a long-running scheme that stripped elderly, incapacitated individuals of their savings.
Rembert faced charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, and wire fraud and was found guilty by a jury in November 2023 after a four-day trial. His sister, Byars, admitted guilt to related charges before passing and was recognized as the court-appointed guardian of over 100 wards. Byars leveraged her position to gain control of her wards' assets—ranging from bank accounts to real estate—and, with the help of co-conspirators like Rembert, transferred funds to shell companies to create an illusion of legitimate medical expenses. Rembert perpetuated the fraud by depositing these funds in various shell business banking accounts before withdrawing substantial portions for personal use. In a statement detailed by the Department of Justice, families of some victims testified they were completely unaware of Rembert's sham operations and had not received any services from him or his companies.
The consequences of the crime extend beyond the prison sentence and include five years of supervised release, restitution amounting to $534,335 owed to the victims, and a special assessment fee. Rembert's participation saw him deposit over $695,000 into bank accounts under pretenses and illegally secure over $388,000 in cash.
Law enforcement reiterates the severity of elder fraud and its devastating effects on communities. Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Amy MacNeely underlined law enforcement's commitment to safeguarding the vulnerable and prosecuting those who exploit them. "As a law enforcement community, it is our duty to hold individuals accountable who abuse their position of trust and steal from the people that are under their care," MacNeely stated, as per the Department of Justice.
