Investigators say the suspect entered seniors’ homes at B’nai B’rith apartments and withdrew cash using stolen cards.
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — A Deerfield Beach woman was arrested Dec. 19 after detectives said she posed as a caregiver to enter seniors’ apartments and steal money. The Broward Sheriff’s Office said the scheme began in October at a local B’nai B’rith housing complex and may involve additional victims.
Authorities say the case matters now because the arrest caps a weeks-long investigation into thefts against older residents at a single apartment community. The suspect, identified by deputies as 26-year-old Jamisha Shamari Sylvain, faces multiple felony counts tied to exploitation of the elderly, burglary and grand theft. Detectives said the investigation is active and that more potential victims could be identified. The case reached court this week as a judge reviewed charges and set bond, marking the first formal step in the criminal process following the arrest.
Detectives said the first report arrived in early October when an elderly resident told deputies that a woman claiming to be a caregiver entered his unit. Once inside, the woman took his debit card and later withdrew money at an ATM. Investigators said the card was used multiple times, totaling $1,600 in losses for that victim. As additional reports surfaced, deputies focused on the B’nai B’rith apartments in Deerfield Beach, where the same approach was described by multiple residents. “She posed as a caregiver to prey on elderly victims and steal thousands of dollars from them,” Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said.
Detectives identified the suspect as Sylvain after gathering statements from residents and reviewing withdrawal patterns tied to stolen cards, according to the agency. Deputies alleged she sometimes told residents she had been assigned through their health insurance in order to build trust and gain entry. Investigators said the method repeated across several incidents: a friendly knock at the door, a brief conversation about care, then missing bank cards or personal banking details and cash withdrawals soon after. Officials said they do not yet have a final count of affected residents and continue to review reports from nearby buildings. Deputies said losses across cases are still being compiled, and the total remains unknown.
In December, deputies located Sylvain and took her to the Broward County Main Jail. Jail records show the arrest occurred Dec. 19. By Dec. 24, the case had reached first appearance, where a judge reviewed the allegations and set bond at $103,000. The charges listed by authorities include exploitation of the elderly under $20,000, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and fraud-related counts. Investigators said they began the case in the Deerfield Beach district, but they are also checking whether similar reports exist in other parts of Broward County. Officials noted that verified paperwork connecting the suspect to any licensed caregiving agency has not been produced.
Residents at the B’nai B’rith complex described a quiet setting and controlled entry points but said door-to-door contact still occurs in the high-rise buildings. One tenant who lives two floors above a reported victim said the activity unsettled neighbors during the holidays. “People are checking on each other more,” said the resident, who declined to give a last name in public. A building staff member said management cooperated with deputies and provided access to visitor logs. “We want our residents to feel safe,” the staffer said. Grossman said detectives interviewed witnesses at the complex and nearby businesses where withdrawals were made.
As of Saturday, the sheriff’s office said the investigation remains open and that additional victims may come forward. Court records show charges have been filed and bond terms are in place, with future hearings to be scheduled after the holiday period. Deputies said they expect to release an updated case summary once victim counts are verified and reimbursement amounts are calculated.
Author note: Last updated December 27, 2025.