EAST ELMHURST — Two women were sentenced to up to five years in state prison after tricking an elderly woman out of more than $10,000 using a "found money" scheme, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.
Juanita Lamb, 58, of Englewood, New Jersey and Deanna Rhett, 60, of Manhattan, used a bag of fake cash to help orchestrate an elaborate trick to scam an 88-year-old woman, the DA said.
The victim was first approached by an unidentified third defendant outside the shopping center on 77th Street and 31st Avenue on Aug. 1, 2015, who engaged her in conversation.
As the pair talked, they were approached by Rhett, who told the pair she found a purse with $100,000 — and agreed to share it with them if the woman helped pay the taxes on it, according to the DA.
Lamb later showed up and offered the elderly woman a ride, and the three set up a time to meet.
Two days later they picked up the victim and drove her to the bank, where she took out $10,300 in cash, according to the DA. She handed over the money to Rhett, and they drove the woman back home — but sped off with the cash when the victim went inside to grab identification they told her they needed.
They were later arrested with more than $7,000 in cash in the car, an assortment of wigs and fake $100 bills, the DA said.
Both women plead guilty to grand larceny, with Lamb sentenced to up to five years in prison and Rhett sentenced to up to four years, according to the DA.
The third defendant is awaiting trial, and was not named.
Lamb's lawyer, Daniel Hochheiser, told DNAinfo New York his client was looking to "put this matter behind her" and receive necessary help in prison.
Rhett's lawyer did not respond to a request to comment.
