A Hammond woman facing 816 counts of financial crimes against the elderly is being held in the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on an $18 million bond.

Maili Morris, 31, was arrested Feb. 16, following a lengthy investigation, TPSO Chief Jimmy Travis said. Judge William Burris, who is temporarily hearing cases in Tangipahoa Parish, set the bail at $18,360,000.

News outlets reached out to the district attorney’s office for a statement on the steep bail, but Morris was not in the DA’s system yet since TPSO had not referred Morris’ charges to the office as of Friday afternoon, according to a DA spokesperson.

Morris is accused of ordering approximately $12,000 worth of food and merchandise from restaurants and stores in the Hammond area from November through December.

Travis said the TPSO Financial Crimes Unit discovered Morris made these purchases using a debit card belonging to her 73-year-old aunt, which Morris had linked to her personal DoorDash account.

When the victim discovered her bank account was overdrawn by several hundred dollars, she checked her account and noticed charges to DoorDash, TPSO said. The investigation also showed Morris made 136 orders from various other vendors including Big Lots, Petsmart, Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General and several fast food restaurants.

Morris is facing 136 counts each of identity theft, bank fraud, computer fraud, felony theft, access device fraud and exploitation of the infirmed.

Travis assured the public that any crimes against the elderly will not be tolerated and offenders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. Anyone with questions about financial crimes or possible exploitation of the elderly is welcome to contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 985-902-2017.

Original Article