In a bizarre turn of events, a 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan, Jr., from Bradenton, was apprehended by Bradenton Police for a grand theft scheme. Moynihan stands accused of assuming the false identity of Elon Musk, the renowned billionaire behind SpaceX, on Facebook to orchestrate a fraudulent act that duped an elderly Texan woman of a staggering $250,000.
Reports indicate that the 74-year-old victim struck up a friendship with an imposter account posing as "Elon Musk" on the social media platform last year. Over several months, the victim engaged in conversations with the fake Musk, eventually being persuaded to invest in Musk's ventures with the promise of a hefty $55 million return on her investment.
Tragically, the trusting woman transferred a quarter of a million dollars to bank accounts linked to Moynihan and his painting and pressure washing business. Shockingly, there are suspicions that the total sum handed over could be significantly higher, as the victim's husband disclosed to authorities that his wife may have given the fake "Musk" an astonishing $600,000.
Following the elaborate con, police took swift action, culminating in the arrest of Moynihan. The authorities have shared body camera footage of the arrest, showcasing the moment Moynihan was taken into custody. Subsequently, he was remanded to jail, although details regarding legal representation for Moynihan remain undisclosed at this time.
