Abbott
A 54-year-old San Juan resident who worked as a Pharr retirement community’s marketing director found herself in jail this week for allegations that she stole nearly $150 from a retiree.
Authorities booked Laura Michelle Abbott into the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on Wednesday on a charge of credit card or debit card abuse against the elderly.
The resident reported the allegations to Alamo police on May 13, where he reported that Abbott made approximately $147.34 in purchases without his consent, according to a probable cause affidavit.
A manager who accompanied the man to file the report told police that Abbott was the Brooke Ridge retirement community’s marketing director who “would help some of the tenants.”
The resident told the officer that Abbott would help him move items and asked him if she could use his card to buy food for her son, according to the affidavit.
According to what he told police, Abbott was going through a hard time so he helped her and provided his card, but when he reviewed his credit card history he found four transactions for which he did not consent.
The man also spoke to the Brooke Ridge directors, who in turn spoke to Abbott who then told the man in front of other employees that she would pay him back, according to the affidavit, which said the man declined and instead decided to file charges.
The Monitor reached out to a spokesperson listed on Brooke Ridge’s corporate website about Abbott’s employment status.
The company did not immediately respond.
Abbott bailed out of the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on Thursday on a $20,000 bond, jail records show.
