Lake Worth Beach home health care worker accused of stealing from clients

She was hired to help frail seniors but she helped herself to their money instead, federal prosecutors say

Jamie Jakia Cofer, 24 — who also used the name Anna Bell — of Lake Worth Beach, has been indicted on 22 charges that include bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for allegedly stealing more than $ 15,000 from her home health care clients, officials announced Friday.

According t o c ourt records, Cofer worked as a home health aide to senior citizens in South Florida for about a year beginning January 2019. While caring for her clients, Cofer found out their social security numbers, dates of birth, bank accounts, credit cards, and other personal information.

Cofer allegedly used that information to steal money from their bank accounts, apply for credit cards, and deposit checks into her account. She made herself an authorized user on their credit accounts, paid for her mobile phone, insurance, and other bills, sent money to a prison inmate, and purchased merchandise including a mannequin head and wig stand among other things, prosecutors said.

Court records show one client’s bank account was set up to automatically pay Cofer’s utility bills each month. Paperless account notifications were set up on Cofer’s phone to prevent the victim from finding out.

All of this was allegedly done without the knowledge or consent of at least five people she was paid . to care for. Cofer is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 25 in West Palm Beach.