Los Angeles

Woman Swindled Out of Life Savings Allegedly by Man She Helped Raise: Police

The 92-year-old woman was best friends with the man's mother. She had a hand in raising him and helped put him through college, she says.

A man is on the run after he allegedly swindled a 92-year-old woman out of her life savings and an apartment building she owned after she helped raise him and put him through college, police said Tuesday.

Carlson A. Jackson, 58, allegedly got Mable Miles to sell an eight-unit apartment building — appraised for $850,000 to $1 million — to his company, CAJ Properties, LLC, for $250,000, police said.

Miles was best friends with Jackson's mother in Detroit. She had a hand in raising Jackson and helped put him through college, Miles and police said. Her entire life savings was in the building, a place she's lived in and owned for 40 years.

"There’s a special place in the netherworld for someone like this," LAPD Detective Carmine Sasso said.

The building was free of any mortgage debt and was Miles' only source of income.

"The way he took her property and then put the money in the bank and somehow transferred it out, she was left literally broke," niece Carol White said.

Jackson allegedly opened a joint bank account with his name and Miles' name and transferred the money for the building, located in the 1900 block of Palm Grove, to the account, police said.

Rental checks for the apartments were rerouted to a P.O. Box in Los Angeles, where Jackson has allegedly been collecting them, police said.

Miles told police she doesn’t remember signing anything but does remember the notary and loan officer coming to her home.

Police said Jackson lived on her couch and kept her secluded from everyone, including her family.

"I hope they catch you, and put you on into jail," Miles said of her message to Jackson.

Anyone with information to Jackson’s whereabouts should immediately call LAPD Wilshire Area Detective Veda Young at 213-922-8257. During nonbusiness hours or on weekends, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or text to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S), with all text messages beginning with the letters “LAPD.”

Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

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