A 44-year-old Florida woman allegedly used her mother's identity to apply for hurricane aid, telling city staff she looked younger because of Botox.
According to the Bradenton Police Department, Veronica Torres was charged with a third-degree felony count of filing a false claim for public assistance after she applied for and received nearly $8,000.
Police said the 44-year-old woman tried to trick government employees by using her mother's name, driver's license and Social Security information to apply for disaster assistance.
She claimed in her application that the devastation following Hurricanes Milton and Helen forced her to move out of her home, police said.
The 44-year-old woman nearly got away with her alleged scheme, until an observant city employee noticed the age discrepancy, police said.
When Torres arrived to pick up her $7,967 check on Thursday, Nov. 14, the city employee took notice, authorities said.
Police said the 44-year-old woman tried in vain to convince the employee that she had undergone “Botox treatments” with transformative results.
Torres was asked to return the next day, where Bradenton detectives questioned her.
Jail records show she was arrested after questioning and released after posting $2,500 bail.
