Rochester Man Convicted in Vulnerable Adult Theft Case Accused of Stealing Thousands from New Victim

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man serving probation for stealing thousands of dollars from a vulnerable adult has been charged in a new theft case. 

See Also: Man in 2015 Viral Video Charged in Rochester Bank Bmb Hoax

The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court earlier this week, alleges he deployed similar tactics he used to steal more than $41,000 from the vulnerable man in the previous case. 

Olmsted County Adult Detention Center records indicate he is back in custody. 

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New Theft Charges Filed Against Rochester Man Convicted of Stealing from Vulnerable Adult

21-year-old Bill Gum Benjamin is charged with two counts of felony theft. 

The criminal complaint says a Rochester police officer, who was aware of the alleged thefts, spotted Benjamin with his latest victim at a northwest Rochester gas station on July 6, days after he was sentenced in the prior theft case. 

The officer approached Benjamin and the victim and learned Benjamin had promised the victim $14,000 to make up for money he borrowed from the victim, the complaint says. 

The victim said Benjamin told him he had to withdraw $100 from an ATM before Benjamin could give him the $14,000. Benjamin never gave the victim money after the victim turned over $100 he had withdrawn from the ATM at the behest of Benjamin, the charges say. 

The complaint says the victim met Benjamin in March. He said Benjamin asked him for money to get his vehicle out of an impound lot. 

From March until the July 6 encounter with police, Benjamin would meet the victim multiple times and would go to an ATM with the victim to withdraw funds, the complaint says. 

On some occasions, Benjamin would put his arm around the victim’s head or drag him by the shirt to the ATM if the victim was hesitant to withdraw money and give it to Benjamin, the charges allege. 

In all Benjamin is accused of stealing $3,905.50 from the victim, the complaint says. Benjamin is due back in court in the latest felony theft case later this month.