More claiming they got caught in scam

More people in Southern Nevada and other states have come forward to say they were victims of a scam that swindled at least $91,000 from older people here, police said Thursday.

Two people are in custody in the scam, which police said targeted older people who were led to think they were giving a neighbor a financial hand.

So far, 13 possible victims in Las Vegas have been located and more potential victims in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington have come forward saying they were bilked out of thousands of dollars, Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Robert Sebby said.

A five-month investigation found that Rick Shawn, 43, and Judy Stevens, 42, were using aliases and posing as friends and relatives of neighbors to get money for a fabricated emergency, police said.

The youngest victim was 73 years old, and the amounts taken ranged from $2,000 to $21,000, Sebby said.

"They would gain the trust or fear of the victim and get them to give the money," Sebby said. "They were absolute con men."

Shawn and Stevens were arrested earlier this month and are being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

Sebby said the pair would observe their victim and pose as someone related to their neighbor. He said they used excuses ranging from fabricated home and car repairs to medical needs.

The pair would accompany the victim to the bank or casino to withdraw funds and, in some cases, would drive the victim in their own car, Sebby said.

He said the suspects had no money on them when they were arrested.

"In the era they grew up in, the trust factor was there," Sebby said about the victims. "They really thought they were helping a neighbor."

Two people in Henderson have contacted authorities indicating they might be victims of the scam as well, Henderson police spokesman Todd Rasmussen said. He said police are investigating whether the cases are related.

Las Vegas police believe Shawn and Stevens also robbed victims in other Western states and had a plethora of false names, dates of births and Social Security numbers.

The investigations in other states are just getting under way, said Sebby said, noting that the number of potential victims is unknown.

Las Vegas police ask anyone with information about the case to contact officials at 702-828-3285.

Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.