A 26-year-old Deerfield Beach woman is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities say she targeted and exploited elderly victims, stealing cash and fraudulently opening credit accounts in their names.
According to Broward Sheriff’s Office arrest reports, Jamisha Shamari Sylvain was taken into custody last week in connection with several incidents involving elderly residents in Deerfield Beach.
One of the cases dates back to Sept. 27, 2025, when deputies say Sylvain approached an elderly, blind woman outside her apartment building along Southwest Third Avenue. The victim had mail in her hand when Sylvain allegedly offered to help her read it.
Investigators said the victim was initially hesitant, explaining that a friend regularly helps her read her mail. However, Sylvain allegedly persuaded the woman to let her into her apartment at the B’nai B’rith Apartments.
Once inside the residence, Sylvain reportedly asked the victim for personal information, including her Social Security number, and told her she needed to cancel her debit card, offering to help with the process, authorities said.
According to the report, Sylvain later returned to the victim’s home and rode the bus with her to a TD Bank branch to make changes to the victim’s bank account.
The victim later told detectives she received mail indicating that a Capital One credit card had been issued in her name, despite never applying for one. She also learned that a phone number had been opened using her information without her consent. The victim told investigators that Sylvain was the only person to whom she had recently provided her personal information.
In a separate case, detectives said a man reported on Nov. 25, 2025, that his 78-year-old mother, who has dementia, had been exploited earlier that month. The man, who has power of attorney for his mother, went to the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deerfield Beach District station with her to report the incident.
According to a separate arrest report, the son discovered that on Nov. 17, Nov. 18 and Nov. 22, his mother was taken to a Chase Bank on South Military Trail by a woman later identified as Sylvain. Detectives said a total of $1,718 in cash was withdrawn during those visits.
Authorities said Sylvain allegedly pretended to be the elderly woman’s granddaughter, and a bank clerk later identified her in a photo lineup.
Sylvain was taken to the BSO Deerfield Beach station for an interview on Dec. 19, where she admitted entering one victim’s apartment to “help her” and acknowledged taking another victim to a Chase Bank to withdraw money, according to the report.
Deputies said Sylvain was arrested that same day on charges related to four similar cases. After being released, she was arrested again on Dec. 23 when deputies attempted to stop her vehicle.
According to the report, Sylvain fled on foot but was quickly apprehended.
She now faces numerous charges, including exploitation of an elderly person, burglary, larceny, fraud and resisting an officer without violence.
As of Friday afternoon, Sylvain remained held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on a $132,500 bond.
