CRAWFORD COUNTY, Mich. (WWJ) – A Northern Michigan woman has been charged with stealing money from a vulnerable relative and sending it to an “online boyfriend” in California.
Elaine Baldwin from Frederic, just north of Grayling, has been charged with one count of larceny of $20,000 or more, Michigan State Police officials announced Wednesday.
MSP troopers from the Houghton Lake Post got a call last October from Adult Protective Services asking them to investigate an alleged vulnerable adult embezzlement.
Authorities say Baldwin, 67, embezzled money from the relative and sent it to a “boyfriend” she’d met online. The man was asking Baldwin to send him money in the form of gift cards and cash to an address in California, according to MSP.
Officials say Baldwin had sent him almost $30,000 in cash and gift cards.
Officials did not say how she was embezzling from her relative. Authorities did not specify how they were related or what made the relative vulnerable.
Troopers were able to stop one of the deliveries the day after Baldwin sent it. The United States Postal Service was given the tracking number of the package – which contained $10,000 in cash – that was being sent to the California address. That allowed USPS employees in California to stop delivery of the cash.
An arrest warrant was issued for Baldwin in early January and she was arraigned Tuesday in 46th District Court in Crawford County. She was given a personal recognizance bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 21.
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