An American Airlines flight attendant has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding more than $25,000 from a 75-year-old Florida woman using a fake sweepstakes scheme, according to authorities.
Destiny Blake, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested by US Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport on Friday, October 23, on a Flagler County warrant, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
The arrest comes nearly a year after the alleged scam began in November 2025, when the elderly Floridian reportedly received a call from a woman claiming to be with Publishers Clearing House, telling her she had won a prize.
To collect her “winnings,” the victim was reportedly told to mail a $500 gift card to “Destiny Blake” at a Brooklyn address.
During this time, the victim also claimed she had been locked out of her personal email account after the password was changed and the account switched to a lookalike email address, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
Between November 15 and 19, 2025, the victim allegedly withdrew more than $14,000 from her bank account. Blake then collected $14,220 in cash and Zelle payments, according to court documents.
On November 18, 2025, Blake allegedly flew from New York City to Daytona Beach, Florida, as a non-revenue passenger, meaning she used her employee travel benefits to avoid paying a standard fare. On arrival, she reportedly checked into a Palm Coast hotel.
The next day, she allegedly took an Uber to the victim’s home. Fifteen minutes later, another Uber picked her up and took her to Daytona Beach International Airport, where she caught a flight back to New York, per the sheriff’s office.
According to court documents, due to medical issues, the victim does not remember the meeting. However, her sister allegedly found a note in the victim’s home telling her to call her credit card company and explain that Blake was her granddaughter and was authorised to use her card.
Court documents show that between November 16 and December 11, 2025, 88 transactions totalling $10,590.30 were charged to the victim’s card. They included a $1,740.91 eBay order shipped to Blake’s Brooklyn address, $1,523.16 on Apple products and more than $1,300 spent at T-Mobile, Ugg, a Brooklyn hair salon, and dozens of Uber rides and Uber Eats orders.
The online transactions were allegedly completed in Blake’s own name, with her personal email address and phone number.
In total, investigators say the victim lost about $25,310. An arrest warrant was issued for Blake on October 13.
According to court records, she faces three felony charges: organising a scheme to defraud more than $20,000 from a victim 65 or older, fraudulent use of personal identification information of a person 60 or older, and grand theft over $20,000.
She was booked in Miami-Dade County jail and later released on a $30,000 bond, according to the sheriff’s office. An arraignment is scheduled for November 24 at the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
“Most flight attendants use their benefits to see the world. Blake used hers to further a scam against a senior resident, live a lavish lifestyle using stolen bank cards and thinking she could get away with it,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in the press release.
“Her wings were clipped by our detectives and with the help of CBP she was arrested. Her next trip? Flagler County to be held accountable for her crimes.”
Attorney information for Blake was not immediately available. PEOPLE has reached out to American Airlines for comment.
