Pike County sheriff's investigators are alerting the public of two alleged con artists from Louisiana who took advantage of an 86-year-old McComb woman Wednesday and may still be in the area targeting others.
Keeley Michael Vice, 39, and wife Celeste Naquin Vice, 31, are each wanted on felony charges of exploitation and abuse of the elderly and conspiracy to commit exploitation and abuse of the elderly. The couple is believed to be from the town of Chauvin in Terrebonne Parish, La.
Chief Investigator Bruce Fairburn said the victim first came into contact with the Vices on Wednesday as she was carrying groceries from her vehicle into her house. The couple reportedly pulled up in front of the victim's house in a pickup. The female suspect got out of the truck and asked her if she needed help carrying her bags into the house.
Fairburn said the victim politely refused the offer, but Celeste Vice grabbed the bags anyway and carried them into the house while her husband waited in the truck. While inside, Celeste Vice allegedly demanded money from the victim under the pretense that Keeley Vice was going to repair her roof and expected to be paid for his services.
Fairburn said when the victim tried explaining that she needed no such services, Vice refused to leave and intimidated the victim until she complied and wrote a check for $768.
"She felt like they were going to physically harm her," he said. "The husband ran to the bank and cashed the check. She tried calling the bank but couldn't get a hold of anyone in time."
Investigators were able to identify Keeley Vice after the bank's surveillance system recorded footage of him cashing the check.
It's unclear if the suspects are still in Pike County or if they've moved on to another area.
Keeley Michael Vice is described as a white male approximately 6-foot and 180 pounds. Celeste Naquin Vice is described as a white female approximately 5-foot-1 and 140 pounds.
Officials are asking anyone with information to call the Pike County Sheriff's Department at (601) 783-2323 or (601) 783-6767.
The Enterprise-Journal is withholding the victim's name at the request of the sheriff's department.
