A 79-year-old Southeast D.C. tenant living on Social Security realized something was very wrong when she suddenly could not cover her rent. By then, prosecutors say, thousands of dollars had already vanished from her bank account, drained by a woman she had known for years. The case ended this week with a guilty plea and a renewed spotlight on how trusted acquaintances can quietly exploit older and disabled residents in the District.
According to prosecutors, 54-year-old Yolanda Forbe siphoned $6,899 from the senior’s bank account into a Cash App account and ran up additional charges on the woman’s credit and debit cards. Investigators say those transactions included Amazon purchases and spending at a tobacco and vape shop near Forbe’s home in Virginia, as reported by WUSA9.
Forbe pleaded guilty to one felony count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and one count of credit card fraud, prosecutors said. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2026. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb did not mince words about the conduct, calling it “reprehensible” and adding that “financially exploiting a vulnerable senior citizen to the point where she was unable to pay her rent is reprehensible,” according to WUSA9.
What the law allows
District law gives courts authority to impose criminal penalties and order restitution against people convicted of exploiting vulnerable adults. Restitution comes first: it must be paid before fines or civil penalties. The statute also allows the Office of the Attorney General to seek civil penalties and injunctive relief in such cases. The criminal penalty provisions are detailed in D.C. Code §22‑936.01.
Where to get help
The Office of the Attorney General’s Elder Justice Section investigates financial exploitation involving older and vulnerable adults and also provides outreach, victim resources and legal remedies. District residents can contact the Elder Justice team at 202-727-3807 or [email protected], or report suspected abuse to Adult Protective Services at 202-541-3950, according to the D.C. Office of the Attorney General.
Prosecutors noted that Forbe had a long relationship with the victim, a harsh reminder that exploitation often comes from inside a person’s circle of trust rather than from strangers. The sentencing hearing is set for July 14, 2026, and prosecutors say they will seek restitution for the money taken.
