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Smyrna couple wanted for exploiting elderly residents in $15K rent theft scheme

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Published  December 16, 2024 10:51pm EST
Smyrna
FOX 5 Atlanta

Couple wanted for scamming seniors out of rent money

Smyrna police are searching for a husband and wife who stole thousands of dollars from elderly people. Police say the thefts took place over several months.

The Brief

    • Delisia Toussaint, a former property manager, and her husband, Martin Toussaint, are wanted for stealing rent money from elderly residents at Galleria Manor Senior Apartments in Smyrna.
    • The Toussaints allegedly cashed rent checks and money orders for personal use over several months in 2023, with the thefts going unnoticed until a management change prompted an audit.
    • Police report that 11 victims, all over 65 years old, have pressed charges, with the total stolen amount exceeding $15,000.
    • The case is being treated as elder exploitation under Georgia law, highlighting the vulnerability of the elderly population.
    • Smyrna police are actively searching for the Toussaints, with the new apartment management fully cooperating in the investigation.

SMYRNA, Ga. - Smyrna police are searching for a husband and wife who stole thousands of dollars from elderly people. 

Police say Delisia Toussaint, who was a property manager at the Galleria Manor Senior Apartments in Smyrna, and her husband, Martin Toussaint, helped her cash rent checks. 

"I just think it's evil. I mean we're seniors already, we're on limited income, and then you take our rent money," said Belinda Whitaker, a resident of the complex. 

Belinda Whitaker says word spread quickly through the apartment complex about the former property manager who is now wanted for stealing money from elderly residents. 

"They're still mad about it even if they didn't get taken advantage of they're still mad about it," said Whitaker. 

Police say when residents handed over their rent money to Delisia Toussaint, she and her husband would take some of the money orders or checks and cash them for their own personal use. 

Investigators say this happened for several months in 2023 and no one seemed to notice until Toussaint left her job and new managers took over.

"They ran an audit, and they noticed that some people were behind on their payment, come to find out they had money orders taken at different points," said Smyrna Police Lt. Meredith Holt.

There were many victims. Police say 11 of them wanted to press charges. All of them are over 65 years old. 

"It can be a very vulnerable population, which is why it's important to note that under Georgia law it's not just theft by taking, it's actually elder exploitation," said Lt. Holt. 

Investigators say they stole between $800 and $3,000 from individuals, adding up to more than $15,000.

For several months, investigators have been conducting interviews, combing through records, taking out subpoenas to determine where the checks were cashed, all to build a solid case against the Toussaints. 

Now they're trying to track them down. 

"I'm glad, I'm glad, because it shouldn't happen to another complex like this," said Whitaker.

Police also add that the new management has been fully cooperating in the investigation.

The Source: This article is based on original reporting by FOX 5's Denise Dillon.

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