Florida Woman, 44, Blames ‘Botox’ for Age Mix-Up in Alleged Hurricane Aid Fraud: Police
A 44-year-old Florida woman was accused of using her mom’s identity to get hurricane aide, claiming to the city employees that botox made her look younger.
According to the Bradenton Police Department, Veronica Torres was charged with a third-degree felony count of filing a false public assistance claim after having filed for nearly $8,000 and receiving the nearly $8,000.
Police said the 44-year-old tried to defraud government employees by using her mother’s name, driver’s license and social security information to apply for disaster assistance.
In her application, police said, she claimed the devastation following Hurricanes Milton and Helene forced her out of her home.
Police said that the 44-year-old almost got away with her alleged scheme – until an observant city employee noticed the age discrepancy.
Authorities said that when Torres arrived to pick up her $7,967 check on Thursday, Nov. 14, the city employee took notice.
Police said that the 44-year-old tried unsuccessfully to convince the employee that she had undergone “Botox treatments” that provided transformational results.
Torres was asked to return the following day, where detectives from Bradenton questioned her.
After being interviewed, she was arrested and later released after posting a $2,500 bail, according to jail records.
