MIAMI — A 63-year-old live-in caregiver and her 33-year-old son are facing federal fraud and identity theft charges after allegedly exploiting an elderly woman who had welcomed them into her home, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced.
Natacha Maria Lezcano, also known as Maria Margarita Lezcano, and Daniel Romero, both of Miami, made their initial appearances in federal court Friday. Romero is charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Lezcano is charged with misprision of a felony for allegedly knowing about the scheme and failing to report it.
“This indictment alleges a cruel betrayal of trust,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “According to the charges, the victim, an elderly woman, opened her home to these defendants and, in return, they exploited her age, her trust, and her identity for financial gain.”
Lezcano became a live-in caregiver for the victim in 2020 and later obtained permission for her husband and son to move into the residence, according to court records. From 2020 through 2023, Romero allegedly used the victim’s personal identifying information to open fraudulent credit cards, make unauthorized purchases and transfer funds for his personal benefit. The conduct involved submitting false credit applications, impersonating the victim in communications with financial institutions and initiating unauthorized electronic transfers from her bank accounts.
Reding Quiñones said “financial exploitation of the elderly can be every bit as devastating as violent crime” and that his office would continue working with law enforcement partners to prosecute those who target vulnerable victims. He added that “the charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
If convicted, Romero faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud and bank fraud counts, up to 10 years for access device fraud and a mandatory consecutive term of at least two years for aggravated identity theft. Lezcano faces up to three years in prison.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Townsend of the U.S. Secret Service Miami Field Office is leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Love is prosecuting the case, filed under case number 26-cr-20139 in the Southern District of Florida.