74-year-old woman charged in armed robbery of credit union was scam victim: Family

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A 74-year-old woman charged in last week’s armed robbery of an Ohio credit union is the victim of an online scam that her relatives say may have been trying to solve her financial problems.

Ann Mayers, who has no previous run-ins with the law, faces charges of aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence in Friday’s robbery in Fairfield Township, north of Cincinnati. She remains jailed on $100,000 bond pending an initial court appearance, and court records do not list an attorney for her.

Officers arrested Mayers at her Hamilton home shortly after the robbery, Fairfield police said in a Facebook post. A gun was found in her car, which police say was used in the robbery.

Authorities have since learned that Mayers may have been a victim of fraud. Her relatives told investigators she had sent money to an unknown person, The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday.

“In that regard, some may view her as a ‘victim,’” Sergeant Brandon McCroskey told the newspaper. “Unfortunately, Ann chose to victimize several other people in the bank by robbing them at gunpoint as a remedy for her situation. ”

If what her family members say is true, McCroskey called Mayers’ situation “very sad and unfortunate.” He said she had reportedly talked to family members about robbing banks in the days leading up to the robbery, but they did not take her comments seriously.