Police arrest father, daughter in scam of mentally impaired man

RIVERSIDE – A father and his daughter, charged with swindling a mentally impaired man out of thousands of dollars, were arrested on Saturday.

On Tuesday, police said Sammy George, 50, and Cindy Elsner, 31, uncovered more evidence that they had obtained money under false pretenses. They are charged with defrauding a mentally ill individual, grand theft and obtaining money under false pretenses.

Police said the suspects told a 44-year-old man that he had won the lottery and that he could afford to give them $1,000. Later, he was convinced to give them money taken on his credit card that totaled $24,000, police said.

Suspects originally convinced the victim, according to investigator accounts, on March 16 that he had won the lottery. The cash advances took place over a two-week period.

Police eventually spotted the suspects’ vehicle, a gold 2001 Lincoln Navigator with Texas license plates, in a Walmart parking lot at the 2600 block of Canyon Springs Parkway. Both were found at the car and taken into custody, said police.

George, whose bail was set at $500,000, is also facing two counts of burglary and a count of false impersonation, said police. Elsner, who faces a parole violation, is on parole for a burglary conviction in Los Angeles County.

Elsner is being held without bail.

Riverside Police Det. Dave Smith is still seeking information about the suspects, including others who may have been victimized by them. He can be contacted at 951-353-7103.

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