Sikeston men accused of exploiting elderly

SIKESTON, Mo. — Two Sikeston men face felony charges of allegedly stealing more than $25,000 in cash from three elderly residents who believed they were helping a friend in need.

Jimmy L. Poyner, 46, is charged with three counts of felony financial exploitation of the elderly for property of $1,000 to $49,999, and James Ricky Ramsey Jr., 20, is charged with three counts of felony financial exploitation of the elderly for property of $500 to $999, according to Missouri Case.net. They also each are charged with three counts of felony stealing.

According to a probable-cause affidavit by John C. Caudle, an officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, about 8:30 a.m. Sunday, he went to a residence in Sikeston for a report of fraud. Upon his arrival, Caudle made contact with the 81-year-old complainant-victim who lives with his 87-year-old and 93-year-old sisters. The victim said he wanted to report a man he’s known for about 10 years — Poyner — was holding a $9 million cashier’s check issued to him through the court system.

Jimmy Poyner

Caudle asked the man which court he had paid taxes to, and the man said he gave Poyner $3,347 in cash Friday to pay the courts. The victim said Poyner called him Friday and said he was in jail in Perryville, Missouri, and needed bond money. The elderly man said a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper called him and told him Poyner was arrested for fighting a trooper.

The victim told Caudle he thought Poyner had the elderly man’s $9 million check awarded by the courts and thought he would not get it if Poyner was in jail, so the man and his 93-year-old sister came up with $500 cash.

The man said at 10 p.m. Friday, Poyner’s roommate, Ramsey, came to his residence and told him he needed $500 for Poyner’s bond. The man told Caudle he gave Ramsey the $500 cash for his bond in fear he wouldn’t get his awarded money. The man said when he was unable to contact Poyner by phone, he called the police.

When the DPS officer asked the man how he was awarded $9 million, the man said Poyner had done some repairs to his home in February. Poyner had told the man he needed a new roof and referred him to a roofing company. The man said the company never showed, and Poyner told the man the owner of the roofing company had been arrested for drug possession. The man said Poyner told him the roofing company owner told police he sold Poyner drugs and that police were prosecuting Poyner, too.

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, Mo.