The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A 79-year-old woman with health issues was ordered by the state’s attorney to turn herself in so that she can be jailed before her initial hearing for allegations of insurance fraud.
Daisy Mae Williams, 79, is from Miami-Dade, where she is currently a minister. She was previously a teacher for 35-years and is a mother of 5, and a great grandmother of 22 children.
Williams has never had a legal problem but recently was accused of insurance fraud.
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has accused Williams of filing a false claim in 2017 for damages to her home from Hurricane Irma. The company alleges Williams changed dates on receipts she submitted with the claims.
During an interview with a local news outlet, Williams said she didn’t know anything about dates being changed on receipts. The woman, who uses a walker, insulin, and suffers from breathing difficulty from COVID-19, stands by her innocence and said she is very afraid of being jailed.
Williams’ defense attorney reported that he has taken part in active email exchanges with the prosecution to ask that his client’s age and health be taken into consideration, and reached out to a state attorney to see if something could be done. He added that he feels her 8th Amendment rights have been violated through the use of cruel and unusual punishment, as Williams, who has no priors, poses no flight risk.
Ultimately, no exceptions were made, and Williams’ attorney said he felt the state attorney’s office was “heartless and cruel” for their decision.
On May 15, Williams turned herself in. She was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $22,000 bond.
The State’s Attorney’s Office agreed to release Williams on her own recognizance after her bond hearing.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.