A Bessemer man, Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for his involvement in an elder fraud scheme, as reported by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. The sentence was delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco, following Pruitt's conviction in December 2024 for two counts of wire fraud.
The trial uncovered that in September 2023, Pruitt obtained a Power of Attorney over an elderly relative with dementia, without the victim's consent. Over the next few months, he became a joint account holder on the victim’s bank accounts, redirected the accounts' address to his own, and altered payable on death (POD) beneficiaries. He also transferred $550,000 from the victim's accounts to his personal accounts, relocating $500,000 to another account excluding the victim. When questioned, Pruitt provided inconsistent explanations to justify his actions.
His prison sentence was increased due to an obstruction of justice enhancement, after it was found that he committed perjury during his defense testimony at trial.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan S. Rummage and Brett Janich prosecuting the case.
Consumer reports of fraud play a vital role in law enforcement's ability to combat elder fraud. Individuals over 60 who have been victims are urged to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). Managed by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, the hotline provides support and identifies next steps for victims. Reporting can aid in identifying perpetrators and possibly recovering losses. The hotline operates weekdays from 10 am to 6 pm Eastern Time, offering services in multiple languages. Further information is available on the Department's Elder Justice website at www.elderjustice.gov. Victims may also file online complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or call 1-800-225-5324.