According to the police department, a 44-year-old Florida woman who is suspected of applying for hurricane help under her mother’s name told a Bradenton municipal official that she had botox because it made her look so much younger.
After applying for and receiving over $8,000 in public assistance, Veronica Torres was charged with a third-degree felony offense of making a false public assistance claim, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
She filed the assistance application using her mother’s name, ID, and social security number, claiming that storm damage had caused her to leave her house, according to the police.
A city staffer questioned the Torres about how she looked in comparison to the age listed on the application when they came to pick up the check on Thursday.
Police said in a statement that the employee was not persuaded by her explanation of “botox treatments.” According to authorities, Torres was arrested after being asked to return on Friday.
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It was unclear whether Torres had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf, and the case did not seem to be in online court records on Saturday. According to jail records, she posted a $2,500 bond and is now free.
It took a moment to locate Torres’ phone number.
Approximately 55,000 people live in Bradenton, a city on the western coast of the state, north of Sarasota. Strong Hurricane Helene swept through that region in September, and Hurricane Milton hit Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, in October.
