Local

Osceola County family accused of imprisoning men to steal Social Security, disability checks

Three members of an Osceola County family were behind bars Thursday on charges they imprisoned at least nine elderly men in order to steal their Social Security and/or disability checks, investigators said.
The family members moved from home to home in Florida and other places across the country and allegedly forced the men into dire living conditions, Detective Stephanie King, of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, said.
“They make their living off of scamming people. That’s what they do,” King said. “They don’t earn their money. They don’t work and now they’re preying on the most vulnerable: the elderly.”
Dianne Stevens, Lisa Stevens and Butch Stevens were all arrested and charged in connection with the scheme.
Butch Stevens’ wife, Virginia Mitchell, remains at large, investigators said.
The men involved were forced to live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, King said.
“They only give them the minimum to survive,” she said. “Minimum food, minimum clothes. They don’t buy them anything. They buy for themselves. They take (the victims’) money.”
Lisa Stevens is accused of taking one man’s home by quitclaim deed. He was then forced to live in his own garage, King said.
In jailhouse phone calls, investigators said members of the Stevens family were recorded discussing recapturing victims who had managed to escape.
“One of my victims did try to escape,” King said. “He did actually escape many times, but they went and found him and brought him back. They found him again.”
The family is also accused of purchasing things in the men’s names, King said.
“(The victims’) bank accounts (were) left owing money to the bank, huge debts,” she said. “Cars were taken out under their names. Things were pawned under their names.”
The scheme also appears to have focused on military veterans, because the monthly payments they receive are larger, King said.
“I’ve heard (the suspects) say many times on recording that they’re actually targeting veterans because they make more money,” she said.
The facts of the case ultimately warranted King adding charges of human trafficking to the numerous other charges the treem Stevens family members are facing.
“When we hear human trafficking, we think sex, children, females at some times,” King said. “You never think of an elderly male.
“One hundred percent it’s human trafficking. One hundred percent. They’re taking these people and they’re coercing them, luring them, through methods of fear.”
All three members of the Stevens family who are in custody have been charged with exploitation of the elderly, among numerous other charges.