Man Sentenced to Three Years for Conning Seniors

A 24-year-old Los Angeles County man has pleaded guilty to conning two elderly residents by telling them they had won a sweepstakes. He posed as a police officer when one victim became suspicious and then robbed her, authorities said.

Lorenzo Duane Beamon, who used addresses in Long Beach and Compton, was sentenced to three years in state prison Wednesday in North Orange County Municipal Court. He pleaded guilty to five felony counts, including two counts of residential burglary for entering the women’s homes under false pretenses, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Rosanne Froeberg, who prosecutes elder-abuse cases.

The scams took place in late April and May, she said.

Beamon telephoned the victims, both 83, and told them they had won $7,000 in the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes, Froeberg said. He then told them he needed to come over with the check, and also get a blank check from them to cover administrative costs, the prosecutor said.

The first woman, who suspected a scam, called police investigators, who answered the phone when Beamon called back the next day. He hung up, but later called back posing as an undercover officer. He then drove the victim to the bank, asked her to withdraw $800 as “material evidence” and fled with the cash, Froeberg said.

Beamon was arrested after the second victim called police while he was in her home, Froeberg said.

“He’s a very smooth-talking, very articulate, very nice-looking young man. I can see why an elderly person would be very happy to open up their wallets to this young man,” Froeberg said. “We view these cases as much more serious than a grand theft from someone who is not elderly and frail.”

Beamon has a prior theft conviction and was sentenced to probation in Los Angeles County, she said.