Case began with an October report; arrest and first appearance followed in the week before Christmas.
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — A 26-year-old Deerfield Beach resident was booked into the Broward County Main Jail on Dec. 19 on accusations she pretended to be a caregiver to enter seniors’ apartments and steal money, deputies said. The Broward Sheriff’s Office said more victims may exist beyond those already identified.
The case centers on the B’nai B’rith apartments, where deputies said they received reports this fall of a woman arriving at doors, offering help and gaining entry with a claim of professional caregiving. Investigators identified the suspect as Jamisha Shamari Sylvain and said cash losses and card withdrawals followed several visits. The allegations moved quickly through first appearance court on Dec. 24, where a judge set a six-figure bond and outlined conditions. Detectives said they are still collecting statements, reviewing bank activity and assessing whether similar tactics occurred in nearby buildings.
According to deputies, the first known report landed in early October when an elderly man told investigators he allowed a woman into his apartment after she said she was assigned to provide care. The man later discovered his debit card missing and $1,600 withdrawn at an ATM. Additional residents reported comparable encounters in the following weeks. “She posed as a caregiver to prey on elderly victims and steal thousands of dollars,” Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said. Detectives said the woman sometimes told residents she was sent by an insurance provider, a detail investigators flagged as part of the pattern described in statements.
Authorities said they built the case by interviewing tenants and staff, checking visitor access points, and comparing transaction times and locations where withdrawals were made. Deputies said they have not finished tallying total losses across all reports and have not released a final victim count. Officials said documents linking the suspect to any licensed agency have not been produced. The charges include exploitation of the elderly under $20,000, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and fraud-related counts. Deputies said the incidents under review all occurred in Deerfield Beach and that case files have been shared with prosecutors.
Jail logs show Sylvain was arrested Dec. 19 and transferred to the Main Jail. At a hearing five days later, a judge set bond at $103,000 and reviewed the allegations summarized by detectives. The court scheduled additional proceedings after the holiday period, when prosecutors typically file formal charging documents. Deputies said they continue to canvass the apartment complex and speak with neighbors who may have seen visits to specific doors, particularly on weekdays in October and November.
Tenants at the complex described a steady stream of deliveries, home health visits and family check-ins, saying it can be hard to tell who belongs on a given floor. A resident who lives across from one reported victim said she noticed a short conversation at the door and then a quick departure. Another neighbor said building staff assisted deputies by sharing internal logs used to manage guest access. Grossman said she expects additional interviews and record checks to continue into the new year.
As of Saturday, the sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active. Prosecutors are reviewing arrest paperwork and evidence summaries, with the next case update expected when court calendars resume next week after the holidays.
Author note: Last updated December 27, 2025.