State attorney says Miami woman charged with 3 first-degree felonies after exploiting elderly aunt – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

MIAMI (WSVN) – A niece making her way on the law enforcement list after investigators said she exploited her own family member.

Myriam Fernandez, 81, and her best friend Sylvia Napoli have made more of an impact than she knows.

Both women were present during a press conference held by the state attorney’s office on Tuesday.

“Your being here sends another really strong message,” said state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “Very brave. And feisty I might add.”

Napoli went to school with Fernandez in Cuba, they were childhood best friends.

Fernandez lived alone for 20 years and suffers from an eye disease that blurs her vision and can cause blindness.

Her Florida driver’s license was confiscated after a car accident in 2021.

Gladys Smith is a 61-year-old former resident of Broward County who is now facing three first-degree felonies for what she did to Fernandez, including exploitation of the elderly, grand theft of over $100,000, and organized scheme to defraud over $50,000.

“To scammers, these homes are like buried treasures,” said Fernandez Rundle. “And like pirates of the past, they work to unearth and steal that fortune.”

Smith lived close to a friend of Fernandez, she befriended her and began to trust her.

Fernandez eventually said she needed her help, which is when Smith became her caretaker. She was dependent on Smith to attend her medical appointments.

Smith told Fernandez a power of attorney document was needed instead of a license for her to take Fernandez to doctor’s appointments.

Fernandez trusted her caretaker, but because of her vision impairment, she was unable to read the document she signed.

Smith even posed as her daughter at doctor’s appointments and got her prescribed medication for dementia patients.

But her rampage did not stop there — Smith also put the quit claim deed to Fernandez’s home in her name and took out a mortgage on one of the properties.

On May 22, a wellness check was ordered for Fernandez after an anonymous tip was submitted to the Department of Children and Families.

The state attorney described how Fernandez was disturbingly found.

“In a dark room with the strong odor of urine and feces emanating from her person,” she said.

The wellness check was called for by Napoli, her best friend, who went to the police after Fernandez called her concerned, disoriented and unaware of the immorality that Smith had caused.

Smith was moved to Tallahassee, arrested there and is expected to be transported back to Miami-Dade County.

The state attorney’s office said that Fernandez’s attorney is working hard to get all the restitution back in Fernandez’s name but it is not guaranteed she’ll gain it back for everything that she lost.

Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.