HOLLYWOOD, Fla. \u2014 A Hollywood woman is facing an elderly exploitation charge after investigators with the city\u2019s police department said she \u201cdepleted\u201d the bank account of a longtime family friend she was caring for.<\/p>\n
Authorities said the senior gave Kimberly Dawn Bukowski, 56, his debit card to \u201cpurchase groceries and his medications only.\u201d Instead, investigators said she took more than $38,000 from him \u2015 with at least $10,000 spent at the casino.<\/p>\n
Bukowski turned herself in at the Broward Main Jail on Thursday, online records show. <\/p>\n
According to a report from the Hollywood Police Department, the victim\u2019s daughter, who has power of attorney over her father, contacted police in October 2024.<\/p>\n
Detectives wrote that when the woman \u201crealized her father\u2019s medication(s) were no longer being paid for, she began to check all of his bank accounts and discovered it had all been depleted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Investigators said the man\u2019s Bank of America account had \u201cseveral unauthorized ATM withdrawals at the bank, Zelle payments to and from\u201d Bukowski, described as \u201ca family friend of 50 years,\u201d and \u201cnumerous ATM withdrawals at the Seminole Classic Casino\u201d in Hollywood.<\/p>\n
According to police, the victim\u2019s daughter told detectives that her father \u201cdoes not know how to operate his cellphone\u201d to use Zelle or online transfers and \u201ccannot drive to any location, nor does he go to the casino.\u201d<\/p>\n
Authorities said bank surveillance video showed some of the withdrawals. Detectives additionally said that the man\u2019s \u201cTD Bank account had several unauthorized checks made out to Kimberly Bukowski, with forged signatures.\u201d<\/p>\n
The HPD report states that Bukowski told investigators the man voluntarily allowed her to use his money, citing a notarized letter she claimed gave her permission to spend money as she pleased.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe would say, \u2018Go out and do whatever you want,\u2019\u201d Bukowski told detectives, according to the report.<\/p>\n
HPD Detective Maria Periu wrote, \u201cI questioned the victim regarding the notarized letter and he stated he does recall going with Kimberly Bukowski to get a paper notarized; however, he does not know what he was signing for. He had full trust in her, so he signed the paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
After her arrest Thursday, Bukowski was being held in the Broward Main Jail on a $10,000 bond, records show.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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