A North Carolina woman is behind bars this week after a Bradenton Police Department investigation revealed a bizarre, dual-layer scam that drained at least $100,000 from a local senior and allegedly involved a fake online romance with a billionaire.
Elizabeth Ann Hildbrand, 51, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested on May 18, 2026, by Elder Fraud Detective Jim Curulla, with help from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. She faces charges of Grand Theft and Money Laundering and is currently awaiting extradition to Manatee County.
The case began in February 2026 when a 66-year-old Bradenton man filed a fraud report. He told police he had invested roughly $300,000 over a two-year period with an online company called “Tesla 1.” The victim discovered the fraud only after he tried to withdraw money from the account and found himself locked out…