Bondswoman was fake, cops say

A Lantana woman who posed as a bail bondswomanhas ended up in the one place she claimed to be able to get people out of.

Medellin CruzSantiago, 45, bilked two Palm Beach County women out of almost $4,000 in total, according to Boynton Beach police arrest reports.

Another local bail bondsman also told police that Cruz-Santiago has been “conducting this kind of crime for a long time,” police said.

And Cruz-Santiago’s former employer, another bail agent, told police shewas fired inMarch because of missing client money. That former employer said Cruz-Santiago has been fraudulently using his business forms to pose as a legitimate bond agent, police said.

After Corey Arthur Kyle, 37, was arrestedby DelrayBeachpoliceona drug charge on May 6, his mother Nora Kyle wanted to bail him out, police said.

Kyle called Cruz Bail Bond Services, Inc. and met up with CruzSantiago, paying $700 to her. Later that day, Kyle called Cruz-Santiago for an update andwas told the money had been stolen.

The two met at a 7-Eleven with Cruz-Santiago trying to pass a $700 check to Kyle. Another bail bondsman called to the scene help determined that the checkwasworthless because the account had been closed in 2011. While Kyle tried to figure out a solution, Cruz-Santiago left the 7-Eleven and“was not heard from again,” police said.

Kerry Hickman, 42, paid CruzSantiago $6,200 after Roy Bennett, 45, was arrested on drug charges on April 3, police said. But the next day she decided to go with another bondsman and wanted a refund. Hickman got $3,000 back but never saw the rest of her money, police said.

Cruz-Santiago was arrested Thursday by Boynton Beach police and faces fraud and theft-related charges. She remained in custody in lieu of a $6,000 bond.

Cruz- Santiago