Commissioner Regina Hill faced a judge about an hour before the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) held a press conference on Thursday afternoon regarding the commissioner’s arrest.
The 58-year-old commissioner was arrested this morning and has been charged with three counts of exploitation of elderly, mortgage fraud, scheme to defraud and two counts of fraud impersonation.
FDLE said, Commissioner Hill is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from a 96-year-old woman and used the stolen funds for a home, home improvements, vacations, a facelift, dental surgery, IV vitamin treatments, a New Year’s Eve stay in Miami and car insurance. Hill was also believed to be living in the victim’s home.
Assistant Commissioner with FDLE, Lee Massey said, “Mrs. Hill effectively betrayed the trust of her community, by taking advantage of a 96-year-old elderly citizen which is one of the most vulnerable in that community.”
Massey continued to describe the elder saying, “A victim, who is the last of her family in the area, was manipulated and lied to. Her finances and personal information was misused and abused for Hill’s personal benefit.”
FDLE did not want to discuss the condition of the property they say Hill stole from the elderly citizen, but The Florida Sun was able to get a photo of the condition of the outside of the house.
At the hearing, Hill pleaded not guilty to all charges. The judge granted Hill a $40,000 bond and about an hour later, Hill left the Orange County jail.
