By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A Kannapolis woman has been charged a month after authorities said she and others tricked an elderly man into thinking they were relatives and spent his money on drugs.
Karen Renee Staton, 40, of 1808 N. Cannon Blvd., was charged Thursday with exploitation of a disabled person or elder adult. She was placed under a $3,000 bond.
Staton is the third person arrested for the February scam.
Frankie Lee Williams, 27, was charged March 17 with exploitation of an elder adult or disabled person. Wayne Morgan Coley Jr., 31, was arrested the night of the crime after a high-speed chase.
After convincing the 85-year-old man they were family, the suspects took the man to a bank, where he withdrew money, Salisbury Police Department investigators said.
The suspects used the money to buy drugs, cigarettes and food.
The suspects took the man to a couple of banks. At one of those banks, the employees recognized the man, but didn’t recognize the people with him. They alerted authorities.
Later in the day, the suspects left the man at a bank and took off. His car was found at a mobile home park.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Staton on Thursday with filing a false police report.
An arrest warrant said she claimed to have been kidnapped, held against her will and forced to make purchases with her credit card.
The incident occurred Feb. 11. She was given an additional $500 bond.
Staton remained in the Rowan County Detention Center Thursday night.