92-Year-Old Florida Man Swindled Out of Nearly $800K in Online Romance Scam, Repeat Offender Arrested
In a disturbing case of financial exploitation, a 92-year-old Florida man was robbed of nearly $800,000 by a convicted scammer who allegedly posed as a romantic interest online, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) confirmed Thursday. The accused, 37-year-old Otiz Swinton Jr., orchestrated the elaborate con while still incarcerated—marking his second known mass fraud campaign targeting elderly victims.
Swindled by Love and Loneliness
According to investigators, Swinton preyed on the victim’s isolation, impersonating a woman in an online relationship to gain the man’s trust. From inside prison, Swinton allegedly initiated contact with the elderly man, who was living in an assisted living facility in Sun City Center, and maintained the charade until the victim was convinced to transfer a substantial portion of his retirement savings to a more accessible account.
“This was an individual who was lonely,” said HCSO spokesperson Amanda Granit. “He didn’t have family or friends nearby and was looking for connection. And unfortunately, he found it in the wrong place.”
Deputies say the scammer utilized others on the outside to withdraw the money via peer-to-peer transfer apps, cryptocurrency transactions, and direct ATM withdrawals, methodically draining the account.
A Repeat Offender with a History of Preying on Seniors
Swinton is no stranger to fraud investigations. Just seven years ago, he was convicted for a nearly identical operation—this time stealing over $1 million from more than 50 people, many of them also elderly residents in Sun City Center. In that scam, Swinton posed as a fraud investigator, convincing victims they needed to mail in their credit cards for verification.
“This is someone who is committed to stealing people’s money,” Granit stated bluntly. “He is not committed to rehabilitating his life, and he needs to go back to prison.”
Swinton had only recently been released from jail on more than 200 fraud charges stemming from his 2019 arrest when he was caught again. Authorities tracked him down at a Publix in Orlando, where he was seen using the victim’s ATM card.
Authorities Seek Additional Victims and Accomplices
Hillsborough County deputies believe Swinton did not act alone and suspect there may be others involved in carrying out the physical transactions and digital communications. As of now, no additional suspects have been named, but authorities are actively investigating the possibility of co-conspirators and other victims.
“There is a good chance there are more people out there helping Swinton or even more elderly victims who haven’t come forward,” said Granit.
Swinton faces numerous fraud charges related to this latest scheme, and additional charges are expected as the investigation deepens. Prosecutors say the sheer scale of the fraud and his repeated targeting of vulnerable seniors could lead to a significantly longer prison sentence this time.
The Cost of Elder Isolation
This case highlights a growing issue in Florida and across the nation: the exploitation of older adults through digital deception and emotional manipulation. The combination of social isolation and technological unfamiliarity makes seniors especially vulnerable to so-called “romance scams,” which have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that older Americans lost nearly $1.3 billion to scams in 2022 alone, with romance scams among the top five.
As the population continues to age, law enforcement and advocacy groups are urging families to check in regularly with elderly relatives and report any signs of financial abuse or sudden changes in behavior.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or has information about the case is encouraged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Sources:
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Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office: https://teamhcso.com
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FOX 13 News, Tampa Bay – Evan Axelbank report: https://www.fox13news.com/news
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FBI Elder Fraud Report (2022): https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2022_IC3ElderFraudReport.pdf
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U.S. Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice
