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Quartz Hill woman sentenced for ‘pigeon drop’ scam

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According to court records, Margaret Souza, 48, of Quartz Hill already has three felony convictions for thefts from elders between 2009 and 2014. These three convictions were in Los Angeles, Orange and Sacramento counties. (Booking photo courtesy LASD)
According to court records, Margaret Souza already has three felony convictions for thefts from elders between 2009 and 2014. The convictions were in Los Angeles, Orange and Sacramento counties. (Booking photo courtesy LASD)

A Quartz Hill woman was sentenced Tuesday to more than five years behind bars for her involvement in a scheme to dupe senior citizens out of thousands of dollars.

Margaret Mary Souza, 50, pleaded no contest last month to two counts of grand theft from an elder and one count each of attempted grand theft and attempted theft from an elder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Co-defendant Teneca Wilson, 32, was convicted last month of one count each of grand theft from an elder, attempted grand theft and attempted theft from an elder. She was sentenced last month to six years and six months in state prison.

Souza managed to steal $7,000 from a 73-year-old woman in January 2012, and both defendants stole $10,000 from an 89-year-old woman in December 2014, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The two attempted to con an 84-year-old woman in January 2015, but a bank teller thought something was amiss and contacted authorities, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The ruse — called a “pigeon drop” scam — involves asking victims to withdraw good faith money to prove their commitment to sharing money the two claimed to have found.

Previous related story:  Quartz Hill woman charged in ‘pigeon drop’ scam

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Lancaster

17 comments for "Quartz Hill woman sentenced for ‘pigeon drop’ scam"

  1. For god sake, she is not typical white. She has a Latina last name and her hair is bleached to the point of it being fried, so her hair is probably black, and she looks like part of the gypsy clan the Wilsons, which Gypsies originated from India.

  2. I don’t agree, whatever the race, I see comments negatively regards of the race, it’s not about what race you are when committing a crime, every criminal posted is all the same……whether black, white, Hispanic, more people should focus on the reasoning behind the crime, most of these people are druggies, and lowlifes and don’t know how to survive on their own, they mostly rely on others to take care off them, whether it’s family or the government…it’s very easy to live that lifestyle when you have no priorities or responsibilities….or they just don’t care at all

  4. Anyone that preys on the weak or the old deserves everything bad ! This is one of my pet peeves right here. I hope she gets her A$$ whooped badly

  6. I’m white and I think this worthless piece of trash should be locked up forever for ripping off elderly people. She’s as bad as a child molester or rapist if you ask me. I hope they beat her down every day when she gets to prison. She’s 100%pure white trash. s for the whites posting a lot more comments about blacks then they do people that are white out there committing crimes. You can thank Obama and that white trash Hillary Clinton for all the black and white hate in this country now days. And thank yourself for all the hate amongst us if you vote for that lying piece of trash this November.

    • So, what about yourself, what are you trying to do to change that way of thinking? Read what you posted and see if your remarks are not perpetuating this hate that you refer to. What has the two (Obama, Clinton) done to cause hate in this country? When the (Obama), has often been the target of a great mountain of hate and hateful comments just for being born the color he is. He nor Clinton had nothing to do with the actions of those two women. Their actions was not generated out of hate, but it was the love of money. I also think that what they did was down right trashy and inexcusable, so I agree with you on that, however I don’t see it as a White/Black thing. What would you say if the other person was Black, Asian, Mexican, Greek, east Indian etc.?

      • Actually before reading the story, when I first saw her face and that fried bleach out hair, I thought she was part of one of the gypsy clans like the Wilson’s that live throughout the US. I really think she’s gypsy.

        I don’t know why anyone would classify her as White Trash, when she looks like a Wilson gypsy and has a Latina last name.

    • SOUZA Is Not WHITE! She’s 100% pure white Trash with a name like Souza? Her hair is bleached to the point of being fried and Souza is a latin last name which is Hispanic and white trash which is reserved for those from a Western European background, like Irish, German, etc.
      Yep, Hillary and Bill are true white trash and even worse, they are murderous felons that have committed well over 5000 felonies…amazingly evil people.

  7. What a piece of garbage. Preying on society’s most vulnerable is despicable. I hope she pays dearly.

  8. This is good.This is good.Scams are bad.Scams are bad.Scams like LEAPS are bad.Scams like LEAPS are bad.LEAPS does not lower crime.LEAPS does not lower crime.Crime is going up.Crime is going up.Despite what we pay for LEAPS.Despite what we pay for LEAPS.$90,000.00 a month.$90,000.00 a month.For ten years.For ten years.That is $10,800,000.00.That is $10,800,000.00.To make Rex’s friend rich.To make Rex’s friend rich.While crime goes up.While crime goes up.So Rex blames the homeless.So Rex blames the homeless.Marv blames the college.Marv blames the college.Then Rex blames the events.Then Rex blames the events.Time to put the blame on the Parris Administration.Time to put the blame on the Parris Administration.They squandered $10,800,000.00 on stupid LEAPS.They squandered $10,800,000.00 on stupid LEAPS.That money could have been used for Sherriffs.That money could have been used for Sherriffs.Or programs.Or programs.Which would lower crime.Which would lower crime.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.No to the Parris Administration.No to the Parris Administration.More boots on the ground.More boots on the ground.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.

  9. I notice In the AV most wanted whenever there are Black at the headline there are tons and tone of negative comments. But this type of Trash very little is said, and the AV is over run with this type of Trash. It can be seen everywhere in the AV.