LYNN — Bernard Stone, a disabled Vietnam veteran, said he was simply looking for some help carrying his groceries, but he got more than he bargained for when a woman allegedly scammed him out of $1,000.
Stone, 80, of Lynn, said he was shocked when his bank statement revealed a substantial check he had not written was cashed.
The kicker was that the $1,000 check, dated Jan. 31, had been made out to the woman he had enlisted to help him with his errands. She had allegedly taken one of his personal checks and forged his signature, Stone said.
“This girl is a bad girl,” said Stone, a retired U.S. Army sergeant. “I don’t deserve this.”
Court documents identified the woman as Laurie Mignault, of Lynn.
Mignault, 44, has been issued a summons to appear in Lynn District Court on March 27, according to Lynn Police. She will be arraigned on charges of larceny under $1,200, forgery of a check and uttering a false check.
In addition, Stone said one of his neighbors had observed the woman coming out of his apartment with shopping bags one day when he had been in the hospital. He later discovered he was missing prescription pain pills, steaks and meats from his refrigerator, and sentimental pictures from his time in federal law enforcement, including a signed picture from former President Ronald Reagan.
Stone, the former head of the U.S. Department of Justice, had become good friends with Reagan when he was working as a U.S. Marshal and they were pictured together in the stolen photograph.
“It bothers me that I (was) in law enforcement and here, she pulls this on me,” said Stone. “I can’t even walk. I’m a retired U.S. Marshal. I have a diseased heart. I’m 80 years old. I don’t have a long life (left) and here she is harassing me.”
Stone alleges someone at Lynn District Court told him the woman has scammed other elderly veterans by cashing their checks, but Lynn Police could not confirm that information. He said he was interested in enlisting her services because he had heard she was known for helping the elderly with various tasks.
Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec said he could not comment on the charges and that the matter has been referred to the court to see if there’s probable cause to move forward.
However, Kmiec said there’s no scams involving veterans or the elderly in the city that he’s aware of.
Mignault did not return a phone call seeking comment.
