A Las Vegas woman has been accused of stealing more than $230,000 from a 79-year-old senior citizen and attempting to sell the victim's home after allegedly gaining her trust and becoming her friend.
Arrest and Charges
Diana Mendez, 31, was arrested following a nine-month police investigation into what authorities describe as a scheme that drained the elderly woman's bank accounts and nearly cost her the house she had owned for years. Prosecutors have charged Mendez with two counts of theft of $100,000 or more, attempted theft, and two counts of exploiting an older or vulnerable person.
How the Scheme Unfolded
Police say the case began after Selina Milroy-Hayes reported suspicious activity on her accounts and later discovered that her home had been put up for sale without her knowledge. Authorities say Milroy-Hayes believed Mendez was helping her navigate financial matters after the two met through a postcard offering assistance with refinancing a home. According to police records, Milroy-Hayes thought Mendez was an attorney, and the two gradually built up a friendship.
Investigators say the relationship deepened as Mendez began assisting the senior with banking tasks and bill payments because Milroy-Hayes was struggling to use mobile banking applications. What appeared to be a helping hand, however, allegedly became something far more sinister.
Financial Theft
Police say Milroy-Hayes first discovered she was no longer receiving bank statements and noticed her mailbox key had disappeared. The missing mail and unusual activity prompted her to investigate her finances. According to police, bank records revealed hundreds of electronic transfers had been sent from the elderly woman's accounts to Mendez over a period of 18 months. Investigators allege Mendez transferred money to herself 264 times using the Zelle payment platform between February 2024 and July 2025. Police calculated that Mendez allegedly received $131,000 from Milroy-Hayes' accounts during 2024 and another $102,000 during 2025. Authorities say the transfers were unauthorized.
The investigation also uncovered concerns about a substantial payment Milroy-Hayes received from the Nevada State Controller's Office. According to police, more than $202,000 was deposited into one of the woman's accounts after she successfully recovered unclaimed property tied to family-owned real estate. Milroy-Hayes believed Mendez had helped her obtain the funds, but investigators say large transfers then began moving out of the account shortly after the money arrived. At around the same time, detectives noticed increased deposits flowing into a business account associated with Mendez.
Attempted Home Sale
The financial trail was only one part of the investigation. Police also discovered that Milroy-Hayes' Las Vegas home had been placed under contract for sale to a real-estate investor for $295,000. Milroy-Hayes says she knew nothing about it. According to police, a notary reported that Mendez presented power-of-attorney paperwork and signed documents related to the transaction on behalf of the elderly woman as her 'attorney in fact.' The investor later told investigators that Mendez represented the transaction as being in Milroy-Hayes' best interests, but police say the senior citizen maintained she never agreed to sell her home and never authorized anyone else to do so.
The sale ultimately collapsed after both investigators and civil attorney Jared Jennings contacted the investor. Milroy-Hayes was able to keep possession of her home. Jennings, who launched legal action to stop the transaction, described the allegations in stark terms: 'She took all of her money, then took her house and was going to throw her out on the street. What kind of person does that?'
Power of Attorney Dispute
Investigators also examined documents giving Mendez power of attorney over Milroy-Hayes. Jennings said the elderly woman signed the paperwork because she believed Mendez's claims that such authority was necessary in order to help her. When detectives first contacted Mendez in August 2025, she defended her actions. According to the arrest report, Mendez claimed she had obtained power of attorney because Milroy-Hayes was experiencing early-stage dementia and needed assistance with everyday tasks. She also reportedly told police the transfers were compensation for caregiving services and said she was entitled to receive $5,000 per month. Police noted, however, that Mendez acknowledged she was not a licensed caregiver. Jennings strongly disputed the explanation: 'She didn't take care of her. They didn't have any arrangement like that.'
After initially agreeing to speak with investigators, Mendez postponed an interview and later informed police she had retained legal counsel. She was arrested on May 14. According to the arrest report, investigators challenged her explanation that she was receiving $5,000 per month after reviewing bank records showing far larger sums entering her accounts. Police say Mendez responded that the additional money was compensation for 'extra services she provided.' Court records show Mendez has denied wrongdoing during police interviews. After her arrest, she was released on a $165,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 6.
