PHILADELPHIA, PA – Carlton Rembert, aged 70 and residing in Hampton, Virginia, has been sentenced to 66 months in prison for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that exploited elderly incapacitated individuals, resulting in losses exceeding $1 million. United States District Judge Joel H. Slomsky delivered the sentence on October 11, 2024, which includes five years of supervised release and an obligation to pay $534,335 in restitution to the victims, alongside a $400 special assessment.
The fraudulent activities, orchestrated between 2012 and 2018, involved Rembert, his late sister Gloria Byars, and other conspirators. Byars, serving as a court-appointed guardian for over 100 incapacitated wards in Pennsylvania, abused her position to siphon off life savings from these vulnerable individuals. Byars, Rembert, and accomplice Alesha Mitchell orchestrated a complex scheme to misappropriate funds under the guise of legitimate medical expenses.
As the investigation revealed, Byars had unfettered access to the financial assets of her wards. She exploited this access by issuing unauthorized checks to companies controlled by her conspirators, including Rembert and Mitchell. These fraudulent transactions were disguised as payments to medical service companies, which were in fact shell entities.
Rembert’s role in the scheme was significant. He deposited over $695,000 in stolen funds into multiple shell company accounts in Virginia, subsequently withdrawing large sums in cash and obtaining certified checks to distribute among the conspirators. Despite his claims of providing services to the victims, testimonies from victims’ families during the trial contradicted these assertions, exposing his deceit.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero condemned the actions of Rembert and his co-conspirators, highlighting the egregious nature of their crimes. “Rembert and his co-conspirators had no qualms about ripping off these incapacitated victims and living it up on their stolen money,” Romero stated. She emphasized the ongoing commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from such exploitation.
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, reiterated the commitment to pursuing justice for victims of elder fraud, urging anyone suspecting such crimes to report them. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer praised the prosecution of one of the first guardianship fraud cases, stressing the importance of holding fraudsters accountable.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Tiwana Wright and Samuel Dalke led the prosecution.
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