FDLE arrests Naples woman for stealing from domestic violence victims

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NAPLES, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested a woman for engaging in a scheme to defraud at least 30 victims of more than $50,000.

Rossana Lucero, 52, was a victim’s advocate at The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.

Authorities say she used her position to target clients of the shelter whom she assisted with immigration documentation.

Lucero told the victims they owed money to the Department of Homeland Security but then diverted their payments to her own bank accounts for her personal use.

Lucero was booked into the Immokalee Jail Center on $100,000 bond.  She will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney for a first degree felony.

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children released the following statement to WINK News regarding the allegations:

In late March 2014, it came to The Shelter’s attention that there was possible fraudulent behavior on the part of a Shelter employee. After an internal investigation by Shelter leadership, the employee was immediately terminated and The Shelter reported the situation to local law enforcement officials.

The case was turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), which launched an aggressive investigation of the matter. Throughout the investigation, The Shelter has fully cooperated with law enforcement.

As per Shelter policy, the terminated employee had been fully screened at the time of employment and a background check conducted.

No Shelter funds were misappropriated as part of this incident, but some Shelter program participants were financially impacted. The Shelter will ensure that all parties impacted by this individual will be made whole.

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