[Archived] McCloud Sentenced For Bilking Elderly Victim

For Immediate Release: April 25, 2018

On April 17, 2018, Judge James C. Clark sentenced Robert McCloud Jr., a 39-year-old resident of Culpepper, Virginia, on one count of Conspiracy to Obtain Money by False Pretenses-Felony for his role in defrauding a 91-year-old resident of Alexandria.

McCloud was sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary, with all but two years and five months of that sentence suspended. After his release from prison, McCloud will be under the supervision of a probation officer for twenty years, and he was ordered to pay $61,000 in restitution to the victim.

The evidence established that the defendant was the ringleader of a group of co-conspirators who met the elderly victim in February of 2015. The defendant claimed to have inspected the victim’s home for possible damage caused by squirrels. The defendant informed the victim that he had found holes in the roof and that insulation had to be replaced as a result. He claimed that preventative measures such as tree trimming and other forms of pest control would be necessary. The defendant quoted her a price of $3,500.00 for the proposed fixes and remediations. The victim agreed to the proposal and to pay the defendant and his associates by check. Over the course of just one week, the defendant and his associates convinced the victim to write checks amounting to $11,800.00 for the performance of work that was never completed.

After collecting this money, the defendant returned and claimed additional work would be necessary. This work included replacement of copper pipes and once again replacing insulation. The defendant and his co-conspirators repeated this scheme, each time advising the victim that additional work had to be done and requiring further payment. Proposed but never completed work included fixing cracks on the chimney cap, fixing and sealing flashing on the chimney, fixing a hole in the roof, replacing tin on the roof, putting new wood in the roof, putting down “shot gun repels,” and a “squirrel alert system.” In total, the victim paid the defendant and his co-conspirators $61,083.00.

Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter said: "The financial exploitation of vulnerable victims is tantamount to extortion and is one of the vilest forms of theft of which I am aware. It is unusual for a person convicted of financial crimes to be sent to the penitentiary, and the significant sentence handed down by the Court in this case is illustrative of the gravity of this crime."

“I note that this was not a fleeting moment of weakness for this defendant. Instead, he and his co-conspirators planned and carried out a series of criminal actions, treating the victim as their personal bank. The hard work of the
Alexandria Police Department in bringing this brood of thieves to justice is to be commended.”

“My office will vigorously prosecute and punish those who prey on elderly or otherwise vulnerable victims. It is our job to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”

"Should any member of the public feel that they have been victimized in a similar manner, or should they know of someone who may have been, they should immediately contact my office or the Financial Crimes Unit of the Alexandria Police Department.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick O'Brien diligently prosecuted the matter on the behalf of the Commonwealth. The case was investigated by Detective Peter Feltham of the Alexandria Police Department and Investigator Richard Stickles of the Department of Code Administration.

The defendant was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff and is currently incarcerated in the Central Virginia Regional Jail.