Florida Official Hit With Elder Abuse Charges After Alleged $100K Spending Spree
Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill was indicted Thursday by grand jury on charges of elder abuse and fraud, according to court records filed in Orange County, Florida.
The commissioner was hit with three counts of first-degree elder abuse resulting in damages of more than $50,000, two counts of personal identity fraud, one count of mortgage fraud over $100,000, and one count of scheming to commit fraud. The alleged abuses took place from April 2021 to March 2024.
“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,” assistant commissioner Lee Massie said in a Thursday press conference announcing her arrest.
Hill is accused of financially exploiting 96-year-old Annie Mae Curtis, a woman who lived in her district, Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show. After fraudulently gaining power of attorney over the woman, Hill allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the elderly woman’s savings account to use for personal benefit.
Authorities say she used the money to buy a house that cost more than $400,000, co-signing with Curtis even though the elderly woman had no knowledge of the sale. Hill then settled herself into a second home owned by Curtis and spent $15,400 of stolen money to renovate it—all while Curtis was living in squalor, a FDLE release stated. Hill also purchased other personal luxuries like hotel stays, facelifts, and dental surgery using Curtis’ money.
“Hill took advantage of one of the community’s most vulnerable citizens, and one of her constituents, by obtaining and later using the victim’s personal information and financial funds for her own benefit,” special agent in charge John Vecchio said at the press conference. “Hill’s crimes cost the victim more than $100,000.”
Vecchio told reporters that Hill became aware of Curtis through her position as commissioner, but declined to make any statements alleging outright abuse of office.
“The charges today have to do with her acting as a citizen, not in her official capacity,” assistant commissioner Massie added. “Gaining access to a constituent is part of the job as a city commissioner,” he said, clarifying that the investigation was focused on suspected crimes she committed as a private citizen, not as an elected official.
The charges follow a yearlong investigation by the FDLE, which was alerted by a former aide who said they had been fired for speaking up about Hill’s alleged fraud, documents show. Curtis had no idea of how much she’d signed over to Hill, Vecchio said at the press conference.
“At first glance, Hill’s actions appeared well-intentioned as she coordinated the clean-up of the victim’s residence and other community resources,” FDLE said in a release. “However, the investigation revealed that in just over a month’s time, Hill was able obtain power of attorney over the victim and financially exploit her for a period of approximately three years.”
Hill is also embroiled in a civil lawsuit with Adriane Alexander, a Tampa resident who won power of attorney over Curtis and displaced Hill in February. Alexander is accusing Hill of taking advantage of the woman’s mental incapacities, allegations that Hill has denied through her own filings, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Hill has said through court filings that Alexander does not know the woman; Alexander maintains that she is the daughter of the Curtis’ lifelong friend, a claim that Curtis’ own filings support.
When asked if anyone else had fallen prey to Curtis’ fraud, special agent John Vecchio told reporters FDLE knew of no other victims.
“We are not aware today of any other victims,” he said, adding that although the investigation was ongoing, there was no evidence of others Hill had abused.
Vecchio added that the FDLE did not expect federal charges to be filed.
Hill has been the District 5 and Orlando city commissioner for 11 years. Her work focused largely on building more affordable housing in underserved communities, according to her city biography.
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