Alabama woman Amy Dianne Elmore Downs (57) aka Slot_7.0 or Slotmachinequeen, used her social media popularity as a way to encourage her followers to send funds through her own personal finance apps. She has been arrested after she allegedly took $1m of donations that she raised for a charity that did not exist.
Amy’s social media has since been taken down.
In October 2024, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation following reports of charity fraud.
Over a three year period, Amy took donations for ‘charitable causes’ after making pleas on her channels. She took the money through PayPal, CashApp and Venmo.
At one point, Amy was even nominated for an award for influencers who used their platforms for good.
‘My name is Amy, and my handle is slot 7.0,’ she said during a red carpet interview with KNEKT.tv, WAFF News reported.
‘I do DV help for immediate danger DV victims and homeless,’ she added.
After authorities began their investigation, it was determined that Amy had not held down any form of employment since 2020. Investigators found no legitimate charity organization registered under her name or with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
Amy managed to ‘raise’ almost $1m in donations, which she then deposited into her personal accounts.
In December 2024, Amy was arrested and the sheriff’s office released a statement:
As a result of the findings, probable cause was established to arrest Downs on charges of 7 counts of Charitable Fraud 1st Degree and 3 counts of Tax Evasion. Downs’ bond has been set at $1,125,000. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information or concerns about potential fraudulent activity involving Downs to come forward. If you believe you may have been a victim or have relevant information, please email the Criminal Investigation Division.
This case is a bit of a ‘ silly’ crime, meaning it involves quite petty theft but it is very interesting as the person involved is still super active on social media. It just goes to show you that social media is a lie.
In November 2024, Marlena Valez (22) had almost 300k followers on TikTok.
On November 20, police responded to a Target store in Cape Coral, Florida. The call was made regarding a past theft that had occurred on October 30.
“Loss Prevention at Target stated that on October 30, 2024, an unknown female entered the store and selected items listed for sale,” police said. “Once at the self-checkout register, the female suspect did not scan the items’ barcodes, instead scanning a false barcode with cheaper prices.”
In total, 16 items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were stolen with a total retail value of $500.32, which was verified by officers via Target’s security cameras.
An anonymous caller reported the theft after Marlena made a post about her Target visit on social media. She had filmed herself getting ready to go shopping. She had also filmed herself inside the Target store.
“Officers then found Marlena’s TikTok account, which documents her getting ready on October 30, 2024, in the same outfit and glasses and going to Target,” police said. “Marlena documents herself picking out items inside the store and placing them in her car after exiting the store. Marlena appears to be a content creator with almost 300,000 followers.”
Police looked at social media posts and compared her images to the ones on CCTV and identified Marlena as the suspect.
Marlena was first arrested for theft on November 21, 2024. She was charged with petit theft.
On November 30, police went to Target again. They met with loss prevention staff about a separate instance of theft from November 20, 2024. Police were shown CCTV and recognized Marlena, as well as a man with her who had a unique tattoo and had been seen on her social media.
In this incident, Marlena was accused of failing to scan 16 items worth $225 while going through the self-checkout.
You can see the CCTV here – https://www.facebook.com/reel/8701086083312030
She was charged with another count of petit theft and was taken to the Lee County Jail where she ended up being released on a $500 bond.
The incidents are not Marlena’s first brushes with crime. When she was 17 in 2019, she was arrested by the Cape Coral PD and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
In a statement posted on social media by the Cape Coral Police Department regarding the Marlena’s Target arrest, Bibiana Alonso Santana said, “She stole my daughter’s car in high school and totaled it. I guess some people never learn.”
Newsweek contacted Bibiana for comment. Her daughter, Amanda Santana, told WBBH that Velez asked her to stay in her car during class until lunchtime. They were friends.
“I went to the parking lot, and I’m looking around for my car, and I can’t find it, so I actually, like double-checked, looked on every side, and I was like, where is my car? We figured out that she went and crashed my car and totaled it into a ditch at a Dunkin’ on Cape Coral Parkway,” Amanda said.
Marlena was also arrested in July 2023. She allegedly stole $63 worth of kitchen items from a Walmart in Cape Coral. She pleaded no contest to the charges. She completed an anti-theft course and served six months of probation, which ended in October 2024.
In many cases, petty theft is classified as a misdemeanor, and people may be released on bail or bond while awaiting trial. Penalties for petty theft can also vary, including fines, community service, probation or jail time.
As of the time of recording, Marlena has almost 460k TikTik followers. Maybe crime does pay.
SOURCE LIST
https://www.newsweek.com/who-marlena-velez-tiktok-star-charged-stealing-target-1992004