Miller

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County woman faces 19 felony charges after allegedly taking more than $1,000 from an elderly man’s bank account without his knowledge.

Kayla Michelle Miller, 35, is charged with one count of financial exploitation of an elderly person, protected person or incapacitated adult for $1,000 or more, and 18 counts of fraudulent use of an access device, both felony charges.

Miller was being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $40,000 property/surety bond that has since been posted.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Patrolman First Class Jonathan M. Warner with the Buckhannon City Police Department, on Dec. 5, the alleged victim filed a complaint against Miller with the Buckhannon Police Department.

The alleged victim stated that Miller had been taking money from the alleged victim’s bank account, the complaint states. The alleged victim explained that he periodically goes to First Community Bank to see his statements and transactions and gets them printed out, and said he observed that his account was losing money aside from regular bill payments.

The alleged victim stated that he knew Miller and that she allegedly “helps him pay his bills,” the complaint states. The alleged victim provided Warner with the bank statements, and Warner observed that approximately $1,201.29 had been taken from the alleged victim’s account “without his knowledge.” The amount of unauthorized charges totaled approximately 18 different transactions.

The charges included Zelle credit, pre-authorized debit to Temu.com, METAPAY to a “Kayla Farrabee” LOC, GOLDNUGGET and Summer Autumn Play Inc., the complaint states. The alleged victim stated that he had no knowledge of what these accounts were and where the money was going, but he believed that Miller was responsible because she allegedly knows his card information.

Warner confirmed with First Community Bank and a bank employee that the alleged victim had come by and wondered where his money was going, the complaint states. The bank employee was also familiar with Miller allegedly “helping (the alleged victim) with his bills.”

According to the complaint, Warner then met with Miller and, after reading Miller her Miranda Rights, spoke with her about the incident. Miller allegedly confirmed that she helped the alleged victim pay his bills, but when Warner questioned Miller on the unauthorized transactions, she allegedly claimed the alleged victim has dementia.

Miller allegedly told Warner that she had “no prior knowledge” of anyone else who would have access to the alleged victim’s bank card information, the complaint states. She also reportedly told Warner that the alleged victim had bought her a phone “under his own will.”

Warner asked Miller about each transaction and Miller allegedly stated that she plays “GOLDNUGGET,” the complaint states. Warner then told Miller that her name was stated in the bank statements. When Warner asked if Miller had used the alleged victim’s card without his permission, Miller allegedly stated “no not intentionally” and then stated that “(the alleged victim’s) card information may have been saved in her GooglePay.”