2 indicted for allegedly swindling seniors

They reportedly lied asking for money to drive to Florida because of a family emergency.

Two Rome women were indicted Friday on felony exploitation and intimidation of elder persons after they allegedly swindled elderly people by lying about their need to drive to Florida because of a family emergency.

According to documents provided by Superior Court Clerk Barbara Penson and previous police reports and Floyd County Jail records:

Theresa Lynne Duffey and Nancy Kay Bennett, both of 247 West Big Indian Trail, were each charged with four counts of exploiting the elderly after Duffey told two people at Wesley Chapel Church that her son had been killed in a car wreck in Florida and that they needed money to drive there.

The victims gave Duffey $ 350 in cash on Nov. 20. She received an additional $150 from another victim at the person’s residence, again saying her son had died.

Bennett was charged with assisting Duffey in both of the crimes, taking her to and from the locations of the offense.

A man accused of robbing the Lucky Lotto on Shorter Avenue, Ramad Ahshad Chatman, was indicted on armed robbery charges for pointing a pistol at the victim while he took merchandise from the store on July 9.

A Summerville man was indicted for serious injury by vehicle following a wreck on Shorter Avenue on Aug. 9, while he was allegedly driving under the influence.

Mark Allen Smith, of 2409 Lick Skillet Road, was driving a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta westbound on Shorter when he hit the rear of a 2006 Nissan Sentra driven by Denys Ramirez, of Alabama.

A Rome man, David Wayne Phillips, of 8 East Drive, was indicted on charges of aggravated assault for stabbing a man on his right side after an argument on Dec. 13.