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Panorama City Woman Charged With Swindling 81-Year-Old Widower With Dementia

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Los Angeles County sheriff's officials say a woman who took out personal ads seeking senior men has been arrested for swindling an 81-year-old widower with dementia.

A sheriff's statement says 52-year-old Myrta Molina, of Panorama City, was arrested Wednesday.

A felony complaint says Molina, between February 2012 and January 2013, placed personal ads using fictitious names in a regional senior citizen newsletter saying she was seeking men over 65.

The complaint says the Lakewood man saw the ad in January and contacted Molina, who convinced him she was in love with him and had him withdraw $26,000 in cash for her from in the next six months.

The statement says when she tried to have him withdraw $80,000, bank employees became suspicious and called authorities, launching a criminal investigation.

Molina is charged with theft from an elder.

She is being held on $150,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Bellflower Court Thursday.

Sheriff's detectives believe there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Christopher Derry (562-906-5418), Commercial Crimes Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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