$36,000 Scam Artist Went to Circuit Court Tuesday
Published by Joe Burgess July 2nd, 2008 in Police /Legal.Hollie Cephas came before the Drew County Circuit Court Tuesday, facing charges of theft and credit card fraud, after swindling an elderly Monticello lady out of over $36,000.
It appears that the case will be worked out in the near future, Said Frank Spain, of the Prosecuting Attorney’s office, although he was unable to discuss any ongoing plea negoations, Spain told MonticelloLive.com, “I told that court that the decision that the court may have to make would probably deal more with the issue of restitution”, than the length of sentence.
Cephas has remained in the Drew County Detention Facility since her arrest, on a $250,000 bond.
The history of the case can be found in the story below, which posted in February, here on MonticelloLive.com.
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The following story posted on February 13, 2008
Options Client Swindles Elderly Montcello Lady Out of $36,000
A Monticello resident, who was a client of Options (an agency to support battered women), used her status as a woman in need of assistance, befriended an elderly lady involved with their program, and swindled her out of over $36,000.
Lt. John Dement, of the Monticello Police Dept. announced the arrest, Monday, of Hollie Cephas, on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card, and theft of property.
Cephas, who was in Options program, drew the sympathies of an elderly lady there, who, when told by Cephas of her life-threatening illnesses, her battle with cancer, the death of a child, and ongoing medical bills, helped support Cephas by funding housing expenses, utility bills, and medical bills.
The lady being taken advantage of spent approximately $25,000 on Cephas, including loaning her a credit card.
Cephas later called her, claiming to be on life-support, near death in a Little Rock hospital, and even faked her own death.
Until….
The lady received her statement from the credit card, showing over $11,000 spent during a shopping spree Cephas took at local discount stores.
Cephas reportedly has no “life threatening” illness, and although she does have children, they live elsewhere.
Hollie Cephas is being held in the Drew County Detention Facility on $250,000 bond.
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I’d sure hate to be in her place when she has to answer to “THE HIGHER POWER” FOR THAT! That is just so wrong of her to do that.. she should have to serve a sentence for that.. Nan
It is unfortunate but incidents such as this cause those who are truly needy not to receive the help they need.
This story hits close to home for me, LITERALLY!! Not only am I familiar with Options, Inc. and its operators, I lived TWO DOORS DOWN from Hollie Cephas. To think that I lived so close to someone capable of committing such a terrible crime is pretty terrifying. I occasionally spoke with her, and its my impression that the woman is a habitual liar.
She needs to be in jail for along time.She’ll never get a job to pay that poor women back.There needs to be back ground checks on these people befor anyone helps them!!