Two Massachusetts residents are facing serious felony charges after allegedly exploiting their long-time acquaintance, an autistic college student, by fabricating medical emergencies and family crises to obtain nearly $20,000.
Details of the Alleged Fraud Scheme
Francisco Javier Escribano, 24, and Michaela Dorothy Francis, 22, both from Norton, Massachusetts, were charged in Utah’s 4th District Court with multiple felonies related to financial exploitation. The charges filed Thursday include theft by deception, communications fraud, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, theft, and unauthorized possession of property.
According to investigators, the alleged fraud occurred between February and July 2025 while the victim attended college in Provo, Utah. Prosecutors describe a systematic scheme where the defendants repeatedly contacted the victim with fabricated scenarios designed to elicit financial assistance.
Fabricated Emergencies and Medical Crises
Court documents reveal that Escribano and Francis allegedly created numerous false hardship situations to manipulate their victim. The fabricated scenarios included claims of brain surgery, life-threatening diabetes requiring immediate funds for food, rental car emergencies, family deaths, and relatives in comas.
Investigators characterize these appeals as deliberately crafted to generate sympathy and urgency, exploiting the victim’s compassion and trust in people he had known since childhood in Massachusetts.
The charging documents describe the operation as a joint venture between the two defendants, who allegedly coordinated their efforts to systematically extract money from the victim over a five-month period.
Victim’s Vulnerability and Relationship History
The victim has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a condition that prosecutors say significantly affects his ability to process certain social situations and protect himself from manipulation. Court filings note that his diagnosis materially alters how he responds to circumstances, particularly regarding normal protective responses that others might employ.
The relationship between the defendants and victim dates back to their shared upbringing in Massachusetts. This long-standing connection likely contributed to the victim’s willingness to provide financial assistance when presented with what appeared to be legitimate emergencies involving people he trusted.
This personal history makes the alleged exploitation particularly troubling, as prosecutors argue the defendants leveraged a relationship built over years to commit fraud.
Minimal Restitution Efforts
Despite the substantial amount allegedly obtained through deception, the defendants have repaid only approximately $500 as of the date charges were filed. Court documents indicate this represents a tiny fraction of the nearly $20,000 they allegedly received.
Prosecutors note that while both defendants acknowledged the necessity of repaying the victim, their actions suggest neither genuine capacity nor sincere intention to make full restitution. This failure to repay, combined with the systematic nature of the alleged scheme, strengthened the case for criminal charges.
Legal Charges and Potential Consequences
The defendants face five separate felony charges each. The second-degree felonies carry potentially significant prison sentences under Utah law, while the third-degree felony adds additional potential penalties.
Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults represents a particularly serious category of crime, as it targets individuals with diminished capacity to protect themselves from predatory behavior. Utah law provides enhanced protections and penalties for crimes targeting vulnerable populations.
The charges of communications fraud reflect the alleged use of electronic communications and messaging to perpetrate the scheme. Theft by deception addresses the core allegation that the defendants obtained money through false pretenses rather than force or stealth.
Growing Problem of Vulnerability Exploitation
This case highlights broader concerns about financial exploitation of individuals with developmental disabilities. Advocates for people with autism and other conditions emphasize that while many individuals with autism spectrum disorder function independently, they may face particular challenges in recognizing manipulation or deceptive social dynamics.
The U.S. Department of Justice has identified financial exploitation of vulnerable adults as a priority area, recognizing that individuals with disabilities face elevated risks of becoming victims of fraud and abuse.
Educational institutions and support services increasingly focus on helping students with autism develop skills to recognize potential exploitation while maintaining healthy social connections. The balance between fostering independence and providing protective support remains an ongoing challenge.
Investigation and Prosecution
The case came to light when the victim or someone on his behalf reported the suspicious pattern of requests and payments to authorities. Investigators traced the flow of funds and documented the various false scenarios allegedly presented by the defendants.
Prosecutors will need to demonstrate that the defendants knowingly made false representations with intent to defraud, and that the victim relied on these misrepresentations when sending money. The victim’s diagnosis and the defendants’ awareness of his condition will likely factor prominently in establishing the exploitation charges.
The prosecution will also need to prove the defendants acted in coordination as alleged in the joint venture description. Evidence of communications between Escribano and Francis regarding their requests to the victim could support this element of the charges.
Community Impact and Awareness
Cases like this underscore the importance of financial literacy and fraud awareness education for individuals with developmental disabilities. While many people with autism live independently and manage their finances successfully, targeted education about common manipulation tactics can provide additional protection.
Family members, educators, and support professionals play crucial roles in helping vulnerable individuals recognize warning signs of exploitation without undermining their autonomy or creating unnecessary fear of social relationships.
The case also serves as a reminder that perpetrators of exploitation frequently include people the victim knows and trusts, rather than strangers. This reality makes prevention particularly challenging, as it requires balancing appropriate trust in relationships with healthy skepticism about unusual requests.
Next Steps in Legal Process
The defendants will proceed through Utah’s court system, where they will have opportunities to respond to the charges. They may face arraignment hearings where they will enter pleas, followed by potential pre-trial proceedings.
Given the serious nature of the felony charges and the alleged victimization of a vulnerable adult, prosecutors may seek substantial penalties if convictions are obtained. Restitution to the victim would likely be a component of any plea agreement or sentence.
The case will test how effectively Utah’s laws protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation and whether the criminal justice system can provide both accountability and compensation for victims of such schemes.
As the legal process unfolds, this case may draw attention to the need for enhanced safeguards protecting college students with disabilities from financial exploitation, both in Utah and nationally.
