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Con artist arrested in Las Vegas after swindling 80-year-old Florida woman out of $41,000, deputies say

Volusia County victim bilked out of $41,000

Jeffery Sorgatz faces a charge of grand theft (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

A man is awaiting extradition from Las Vegas to Volusia County to face grand theft charges after deputies said he bilked an 80-year-old woman out of thousands of dollars.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Jeffery Sorgatz on Tuesday, records show.

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The investigation started in January when the victim, a woman from the New Smyrna Beach area, reported she had been ripped off. Deputies said the woman got a phone call from a stranger claiming to be a computer expert in New York. He told the woman hackers were stealing her information and that she needed to send him $20,000, according to investigators.

The victim sent the check, but a woman called her later claiming to be from the sheriff’s office. Records show the woman asked the victim for $21,000. Both checks were made out of Sorgatz, according to deputies.

Detectives tracked the checks to accounts belonging to Sorgatz and determined he had deposited them in Las Vegas. Investigators in Las Vegas obtained surveillance video from the bank branch and identified Sorgatz, records show.

Sorgatz was arrested on a charge of grand theft is being held without bond as he waits to travel to Central Florida.

Investigators said they seized two accounts from the accused con artist worth $48,000 and have informed the victim her money will be returned.


About the Author
Thomas Mates headshot

Thomas Mates is a Streaming Executive Producer for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010.

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