A South Florida woman already facing charges for exploiting elderly residents in Deerfield Beach skipped a scheduled Broward County court hearing Thursday morning, and detectives say she allegedly kept targeting seniors in the months before her no-show. Jamisha Sylvain was due in court but never appeared, prompting the Broward Sheriff's Office to renew its search for her.
According to a Broward Sheriff's Office statement reported by BocaNewsNow.com, Sylvain allegedly targeted a resident at The Pointe at Deerfield Beach Senior Living after she was released from jail on bond in May 2026, posing as the building manager to steal a debit card, credit cards, and cash. It's one of two new cases investigators have connected her to since her release. As reported by WSVN, Sylvain has allegedly pulled off a similar scam at least twice more since bonding out of jail this spring, entering apartments and communities where elderly residents might live under false pretenses.
BSO spokesperson Miranda Grossman told WSVN, “So clearly this suspect has no shame.” Grossman added that Sylvain will likely continue the scams until she is arrested again.
A Pattern Dating Back to December
Sylvain's alleged scheme isn't new. She was first arrested on December 19, 2025, facing charges including occupied burglary, elder exploitation, criminal use of personal identification, and grand theft against a person 65 or older, and was held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on a $132,500 bond, according to earlier Hoodline reporting that relayed NBC 6 and Local 10 News coverage.
That earlier case, per the same reporting, involved manipulating an elderly blind woman at the B'nai B'rith Apartments in Deerfield Beach and taking a 78-year-old woman with dementia to a Chase Bank to make unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling $1,718 while posing as her granddaughter. Bank clerk identification and family members holding power of attorney helped investigators trace those transactions. WSVN reports that authorities recommend verifying with a loved one before giving out banking information to anyone claiming to be a caregiver or relative.
What Skipping Court Means Legally
Under Florida Statute § 843.15, failing to appear in court after being released on bail for a felony charge is itself a separate third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, and can result in forfeiture of the posted bail bond, according to attorney Andre Rouviere. A missed court date can also lead to a bench or capias warrant. The available account does not establish Sylvain's complete current charging status.
Those underlying exploitation charges carry their own steep penalties. Under Florida Statute § 825.103, financial exploitation of an elderly person involving assets between $10,000 and $50,000 is a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years in prison, while exploitation exceeding $50,000 is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years, according to StechLaw Criminal Defense. Florida law defines an elderly person as anyone 60 or older and addresses financial exploitation involving deception.
A Statewide Crisis Beyond One Suspect
Sylvain's case sits inside a much larger problem. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center's 2025 report, cited by HousingWire, Florida ranked second nationwide in the number of senior complaints, with 17,147 complaints. Nationwide, elder fraud losses surpassed $7.75 billion in 2025 across more than 201,000 complaints, a 59 percent jump over 2024.
The same report found the average financial loss reported by victims 60 and older was $38,500 per incident, compared to $20,699 across all age groups nationwide. The report also addressed financial losses among people 60 and older.
Local senior communities have taken notice. Scam warnings advise residents that impostors may falsely claim to represent utility companies or other trusted companies. Residents are advised to verify claims before giving out banking information to anyone claiming to be a caregiver or relative.
Specialized Units, Ongoing Search
South Florida prosecutors have built dedicated infrastructure to fight this kind of crime. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office says it operates Elder and Vulnerable Adult units, among the first specialized prosecution teams in the nation, specifically to handle complex financial exploitation cases targeting seniors.
Broward Sheriff's Office detectives are still searching for Sylvain, who has been arrested multiple times in connection with these allegations. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Broward Sheriff's Office at 954-764-4357.
