Verdict In For Rilya Wilson's Caregiver
Geralyn Graham Guilty Of Identity Fraud
POSTED: 4:47 p.m. EST January 16, 2003
UPDATED: 7:34 a.m. EST January 17, 2003
MIAMI -- A jury has found one of Rilya Wilson's former caregivers guilty of identity fraud.
The jury came back with a guilty verdict for Geralyn Graham (pictured, right) just after 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Graham used a Tennessee woman's credit card and driver's license to buy a $27,000 SUV.
Graham first came under scrutiny during the highly publicized case of Rilya Wilson, a child who disappeared while in the care of the Department of Children and Families.
Investigators publicly accused Graham of not being truthful about Rilya's disappearance, but these charges are unrelated to the child.
Although, Graham's daughter, Angelique James, said she thought the jury's decision was influenced by Rilya's disappearance.
"It has nothing to do with fraud. There's more to it than that. I don't think she got a fair trial," James said.
"You never know what's in the back of the juror's mind. I expect that they were fair and impartial and didn't consider Rilya Wilson in this case," said Graham's lawyer Brian Tannebaum.
The trial for the identity fraud took less than two days. Graham will be sentenced on Feb. 21.
Police said Graham used more than 37 aliases and is a "career criminal." Graham has already been in jail since Oct. 2 on welfare fraud charges. Authorities said Graham and her sister claimed Rilya and her sister as their grandchildren in order to cheat the state of more than $14,000 in food stamps and other welfare payments.
Graham still faces a March 3rd trial for welfare fraud.
The jury came back with a guilty verdict for Geralyn Graham (pictured, right) just after 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Graham used a Tennessee woman's credit card and driver's license to buy a $27,000 SUV.
Graham first came under scrutiny during the highly publicized case of Rilya Wilson, a child who disappeared while in the care of the Department of Children and Families.
Investigators publicly accused Graham of not being truthful about Rilya's disappearance, but these charges are unrelated to the child.
Although, Graham's daughter, Angelique James, said she thought the jury's decision was influenced by Rilya's disappearance.
"It has nothing to do with fraud. There's more to it than that. I don't think she got a fair trial," James said.
"You never know what's in the back of the juror's mind. I expect that they were fair and impartial and didn't consider Rilya Wilson in this case," said Graham's lawyer Brian Tannebaum.
The trial for the identity fraud took less than two days. Graham will be sentenced on Feb. 21.
Police said Graham used more than 37 aliases and is a "career criminal." Graham has already been in jail since Oct. 2 on welfare fraud charges. Authorities said Graham and her sister claimed Rilya and her sister as their grandchildren in order to cheat the state of more than $14,000 in food stamps and other welfare payments.
Graham still faces a March 3rd trial for welfare fraud.
Previous Stories:
- January 13, 2003: Jury Selection Begins In Rilya's Caregiver's Trial
- November 8, 2002: Rilya Wilson Caseworker Pleads Not Guilty
- October 18, 2002: Former Rilya Wilson Caseworker Out On Bond
- October 10, 2002: Rilya Wilson's Caretaker Arrested Again
- October 7, 2002: Bond Lowered For Rilya's Former Caretakers
- October 3, 2002: Police Say Rilya Caretaker Is Liar, Career Criminal
- October 2, 2002: Rilya Wilson's Caretakers Arrested
- October 2, 2002: Police Arrest Rilya Wilson's Former Caregivers
- June 18, 2002: Caretakers Of Rilya Wilson Lose Custody Of Little Sister
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