Newberry man charged with stealing $7,000 from 75-year-old woman

Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Avery Donnell Hopkins, 50, was arrested yesterday and charged with using a debit card belonging to a 75-year-old woman to make purchases and withdraw cash for his personal use.

The victim lives alone but has mental deficiencies; her sister, who has a Power of Attorney over the victim’s financial affairs, reportedly noticed suspicious transactions on the victim’s debit card and called the police.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that Hopkins “randomly solicited the victim”; the victim gave him her debit card and PIN so he could purchase an item for her, but he allegedly kept the debit card. He also reportedly “befriended” the victim and persuaded her to let him sleep at her home intermittently between October and December 2023.

When the deputy arrived at the victim’s home on December 4, they found Hopkins there; the deputy was familiar with Hopkins and reportedly asked him what had happened before reading his Miranda rights. Hopkins reportedly said he had taken money to get his driver’s license reinstated, and he was released.

However, the deputy noted that Hopkins’ license was still suspended as of January 4.

Further investigation revealed that Hopkins made 18 fraudulent transactions at the Family Dollar in Newberry and withdrew $50 in cash each time while making a small purchase; the amount came to about $1,000. Hopkins also allegedly made 16 fraudulent withdrawals, totaling about $6,000, at ATMs in Newberry.

Hopkins has been charged with exploitation of an elderly person, grand theft, and fraudulent use of a debit card. He has 10 felony convictions (one violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He has served one three-year state prison term and was released in January 2022. Judge Sheree Lancaster set bail at $110,000, the same amount recommended by Judge Phillip Pena when he signed the arrest warrant.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.