BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A man accused of defrauding an elderly woman out of more than $1 million has been arrested in North Dakota.
Fifty-six-year-old Vernon Officer has been charged with wire fraud and filing a false income tax statement. Authorities say Officer began defrauding the Virginia woman in 2011 after they both met online.
Authorities say Officer traveled to Virginia and demanded money from the woman. He eventually talked her into giving him over $600,000 to buy a former U.S. Coast Guard boat that was for sale after being decommissioned. Officer later convinced the woman to give her $400,000 more.
Officer says he has lived in North Dakota since December. He'll remain under the custody of the U.S. Marshals until he is taken to Washington state, where the charges were filed. It wasn't immediately clear whether he has an attorney.