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A 31-year-old Las Vegas woman is facing serious charges after police say she took advantage of a 79-year-old woman and stole more than $230,000 from her life savings. The case has left many people in the valley shaking their heads and wondering how something like this could happen to a trusting senior.
Details of the Las Vegas Elder Theft Case
Diana Mendez was arrested earlier this month following a nine-month investigation. She faces two counts of theft over $100,000, attempted theft, and two counts of exploiting an older or vulnerable person. According to police, Mendez met the victim, Selina Milroy-Hayes, after sending her a postcard offering help to refinance her home. The senior thought Mendez was an attorney.
The two became friends, and Mendez started helping with bills and banking. But things took a bad turn. Police say Mendez made herself an authorized user on the accounts and sent herself 264 unauthorized Zelle transfers between February 2024 and July 2025.
That added up to roughly $130,977 in 2024 and $101,817 in 2025.
How the Alleged Scam Unfolded
Milroy-Hayes also received a big check for $202,927 from the state for unclaimed property. Soon after, large amounts of that money moved into accounts linked to Mendez. On top of the cash, police say Mendez used a power of attorney document to try to sell the senior’s house for $295,000. The victim only found out when her attorney stepped in and stopped the sale just in time.
Mendez told police she had power of attorney because the victim had early dementia and needed help. She claimed the transfers were payment for caregiving services at $5,000 a month, even though she wasn’t a licensed caregiver. The victim’s lawyer says none of that was true and called it straight-up elder abuse.
These kinds of charges often shake up everyone involved because they strike at the heart of trust between people.
Prosecutors usually push hard from the start, piling on multiple counts to reflect the full scope of the harm, both the money taken and the emotional damage to the senior. They do this because cases involving older victims tend to draw strong community attention, and the evidence from bank records, Zelle transfers, and property documents can build a pretty solid picture.
Prison time is common for large theft amounts, along with orders to repay every dollar lost. On top of that, people end up with permanent criminal records that make everyday life tougher.
Families dealing with these charges often talk about the constant worry, the stack of court papers, and how one situation can drain savings meant for lawyers.
Having someone who knows the local process inside and out can be very helpful.
At LV Criminal Defense, we’ve spent the last eleven years standing up for people in Las Vegas caught up in complex financial and exploitation investigations.
We take the time to go through your version of events, dig into the paperwork, and spot areas where the story might not align with what prosecutors claim. We keep clients informed in plain English so there are no surprises along the way.
If you’re an elderly person and caught in a scam, you don’t have to handle this kind of pressure by yourself. Early support often leads to better choices and a clearer path forward.
Contact LV Criminal Defense today for a free, no-pressure phone consultation. Just leave your contact info on our website. We’re here to listen and give you straight answers when you need them most.
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