DIRECTOR PAGE

SHOW OPEN-CLIP

TSA) CHURCH FRAUD-VIDBOX TOPS

NBC2 IS TRACKING TWO BIG STORIES AT 5:30--

CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY A WOMAN TOLD HER CHURCH CONGREGATION THAT HER *FOUR* SONS WERE KILLED FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY--

TURNS OUT SHE HAS ONLY TWO SONS--

AND THEY'RE BOTH ALIVE--

TONIGHT AT SIX--

TSB) MEDSTAR RULING-VIDBOX TOPS

NBC2 CONFIRMS THE F-A-A IS NOT FINING LEE COUNTY OVER THE MEDSTAR FIASCO.

ACCORDING TO AN INSPECTOR--

THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER MEDSTAR PILOTS FLEW WITHOUT BEING PROPERLY TRAINED IS *SUSPENDED*--

BECAUSE MEDSTAR STOPPED OPERATING.

AN NBC2 INVESTIGATION REVEALED MORE THAN 3 MILLION DOLLARS IN IMPROPER BILLING.

TOSS TO STEVE-2 SHOT

THE CAPE CORAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ISN'T LIVING UP TO THEIR OWN STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONSE TIMES.

IN 2012 --

THEY ARRIVED ON SCENE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES ONLY *ONCE* EVERY *THREE* TIMES!

NBC2'S STEVE CAMPION JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR CAPE CORAL MOBILE NEWSROOM WITH NEW DETAILS.

CAPE SLOW RESPONSE TIMES-LIVE

THE NEW NUMBERS DETAIL A SERIOUS SITUATION.

AS THIS CITY GROWS THERE'S NO QUESTION FIRE RESPONSE HASN'T KEPT PACE.

CAPE SLOW RESPONSE TIMES-PKG

Take siren nats

A DISTRESS SIGNAL SOUNDS LOUD IN CAPE CORAL.

FIRE RESPONSE TIMES FALL AGAIN -- MARKING SOME OF THE HIGHEST TIMES SINCE THE START OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

TAKE GRAPHIC

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS -- AS THE CALLS FOR SERVICE SPIKED -- RESPONSE TIMES REACHED ON AVERAGE SIX MINUTES LONG.

TO MEET THE NATIONAL AVERAGE -- FIREFIGHTERS MUST ARRIVE TO A SCENE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES -- 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME.

CAPE CORAL WANTS FIRST RESPONDERS THERE IN FIVE MINUTES -- 60 PERCENT OF THE TIME.

CAPE SLOW RESPONSE TIMES-LIVE

AS WE EMAILED AND CALLED -- TRYING TO GET QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS ALL MEANS FOR PUBLC SAFETY -- THE CITY'S FIRE CHIEF HELD A SPECIAL LUNCHEON FOR HIS RETIREMENT.

IN AN EMAIL LATE TODAY -- THE CITYS SPOKESPERSON TOLD US NO ONE IS PREPARED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE YEAR AFTER YEAR DECLINE IN RESPONSE TIMES AT THIS TIME.

SHE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING NEXT WEEK ON WAYS TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

CASEY ANTHONY RULING-VO

A FLORIDA APPEALS COURT--

*OVERTURNED* TWO OF THE FOUR CONVICTIONS AGAINST CASEY ANTHONY.

THE JUDGES RULED THAT TWO OF THE CHARGES OF LYING TO POLICE--

CONSTITUTED DOUBLE JEOPARDY--

OR BEING CONVICTED MORE THAN ONCE FOR THE SAME CRIME.

ANTHONY WAS ACQUITTED OF KILLING HER DAUGHTER CAYLEE IN 2011.

JURORS CONVICTED HER OF FOUR COUNTS OF LYING TO DETECTIVES--

FLORIDA GUN TAX-VO WIPE

THE NEWTOWN SHOOTING IS PROMPTING ONE FLORIDA LAWMAKER--

TO PUSH FOR TAXES ON GUNS AND AMMUNITION.

THE MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAMS.

REPRESENTATIVE LINDA STEWART-- A DEMOCRAT FROM ORLANDO.

WANTS THE MONEY USED FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR STUDENTS--KINDERGARTEN TO 5TH GRADE.

STEWART SAYS KIDS AS YOUNG AS SIX AND SEVEN--

FLORIDA GUN TAX-SOTVO

"If you can find that child early enough and get him to a person that has knowledge and is trained, I think then they can work with their families and try to resolve some of these issues early on."

STEWART SAYS MOST MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE COUNSELORS--

WALL STREET RALLY-TRXSOTVOTOP, CG

nats of closing bell

WALL STREET'S RALLY CONTINUES.

MAJOR STOCKS--

FROM PROCTOR AND GAMBLE TO STARBUCKS ARE GOING UP--

TAKING THE MARKET WITH THEM.

AT THE CLOSING BELL--

THE DOW WAS UP 70-POINTS.

THE NASDAQ UP ALMOST 20.

THE S&P WAS UP EIGHT POINTS.

IT'S ALSO ABOVE 15-HUNDRED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2007.

HOME SALES-CG

MIXED NEWS ON THE HOUSING FRONT.

SALES OF NEW HOMES COOLED OFF IN DECEMBER--

DOWN OVER 7-PERCENT FROM NOVEMBER.

BUT SALES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR WERE THE BEST SINCE 2009.

REALTORS SOLD 367-THOUSAND HOMES.

EVEN WITH THE GOOD YEAR--

SALES REMAIN FAR BELOW THE 700-THOUSAND THAT ECONOMISTS CONSIDER HEALTHY.

RIGHT TO LIFE MARCH-VO

ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVISTS HELD THEIR ANNUAL "MARCH FOR LIFE" EVENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TODAY.

IT COINCIDES WITH THIS WEEK'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROE - V- WADE DECISION--

THAT UPHOLDS A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO ABORTION.

DEMONSTRATORS RALLIED AT THE NATIONAL MALL WITH POLITICIANS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS--

FL HEALTHCARE MEDICAID-VO WIPE

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO DECIDE IF FLORIDA SHOULD EXPAND ITS MEDICAID PROGRAM.

IF NOT--

THAT COULD LEAVE ONE MILLION FLORIDIANS "UNINSURED".

TODAY A 61-YEAR OLD FROM MIAMI TOLD HER STORY TO A HOUSE PANEL LOOKING INTO THIS TOUGH DECISION.

SHE'S GONE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS--

BECAUSE IT BECAME TOO EXPENSIVE.

SHE WORRIES THAT ONE BAD ILLNESS OR ACCIDENT--

FL HEALTHCARE MEDICAID-SOTVO

"It does boggle the mind. The mind, the heart, because you don't want to have all these bills on you."

UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT--

STATES CAN EXPAND MEDICAID COVERAGE TO PEOPLE WHO EARN 133-PERCENT OF THE POVERTY LEVEL.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL COVER 100 PERCENT OF THOSE EXTRA COSTS.

CHARCO LANDFILL LATEST-VO WIPE

THE MAN LEADING THE CHARGE AGAINST A PROPOSED LANDFILL IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY--

HAS COME UP WITH A PLAN TO MOVE THAT LANDFILL'S LOCATION.

CALUSA GREEN WANTS TO BUILD A NEW LANDFILL IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

FRED HILL SAYS HE'LL TURN HIS DESOTO COUNTY RANCH INTO A CONSERVATION EASEMENT--

IF THE STATE GIVES HIM THE 600-ACRES IT OWNS AROUND THE EXISTING CHARLOTTE COUNTY LANDFILL.

HILL SAYS THE COUNTY OR INVESTORS FROM CALUSA GREEN COULD THEN BUY THAT LAND--

CHARCO LANDFILL LATEST-SOTVO

to me that's the most logical place to put a landfill, right where it already is

HILL SAYS HE'S STILL WORKING WITH THE STATE TO SEE IF THE SWAP IS POSSIBLE.

LIGHTHOUSE BEACH TILLING-VO ANIMAP

NEXT WEEK CREWS WILL BEGIN TILLING LIGHTHOUSE BEACH ON SANIBEL ISLAND.

THIS WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON.

OFFICIALS DON'T WANT THE BEACH TOO COMPACTED FOR FEMALE TURTLES TO LAY THEIR EGGS.

THE WORK WILL BE DONE MONDAY AND SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 6 HOURS.

IT WILL IMPACT THE SAN CARLOS BAY SIDE OF LIGHTHOUSE BEACH--

RECORD iPHONE SALES-VO

SMARTPHONE SALES ARE SOARING AT AT&T.

THE COMPANY SOLD OVER 10-MILLION SMARTPHONES LAST QUARTER ALONE!

THAT'S THE MOST EVER FOR ANY CARRIER.

AT&T ALSO ACTIVATED ANOTHER 8-MILLION IPHONES.

EARLIER THIS WEEK--

VERIZON SAID IT SOLD A RECORD 6-MILLION IPHONES IN THE FOURTH QUARTER--

SMARTPHONE TRAFFIC JAM-VO WIPE

ALL OF THOSE SMARTPHONES ARE TAKING A TOLL ON THE INTERNET!

A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW SLOW THEIR INTERNET CONNECTION IS ON THEIR CELLPHONES.

THAT'S BECAUSE ALL THOSE SMARTPHONES ARE LITERALLY "DUELING" FOR DATA.

IN FACT--

SOME ANALYSTS ESTIMATE--

AMERICAN WILL *OUTPACE* NETWORK CAPACITY IN THE NEXT *THREE* YEARS!

SMARTPHONE TRAFFIC JAM-SOTVO

"Yea people are uploading videos and pictures quite a bit because that's how they're documenting their lives and that's how they're sharing with other people what they're doing"

COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM NOW IS ALL OF THE TABLETS--

THEY'RE ALSO CLOGGING THE LINES.

CELL PHONE DRIVING HABITS-CG

PEOPLE WHO USE CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING--

ARE MORE LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN ADDITIONAL DANGEROUS BEHAVIORS.

HERE'S HOW THE STATS BREAK DOWN.

65 PERCENT WERE LIKELY TO DRIVE TOO FAST--

44 PERCENT DROVE WHILE TIRED --

53 PERCENT SENT A TEXT OR EMAIL--

AND 29-PERCENT DIDN'T USE A SEAT BELT.

ABRAMS DIRECTS STAR WARS-VO

GREAT NEWS FOR STAR WARS FANS--

J-J ABRAMS WILL DIRECT THE NEXT EPISODE OF STAR WARS!

ABRAMS IS THE *HOT* DIRECTOR IN HOLLYWOOD RIGHT NOW.

HE BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO THE "STAR TREK" FRANCHISE IN 2009.

WHILE ABRAMS SAYS IT'S A GO FOR STAR WARS 7--

THERE'S NO WORD IF HE'LL ALSO DIRECT EIGHT AND NINE.

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

SHE THOUGHT SHE'D WON MILLIONS AND A NEW CAR.

TURNS OUT SHE DIDN'T--

AND NOW SHE'S OUT HER LIFE'S SAVINGS!

NBC2 TALKS WITH THE WOMAN WHO'S THE ULIKELY VICTIM OF ANOTHER SCAM ON SENIORS.

HE'S LIVING IN A MULTI- MILLION DOLLAR MANSION ABSOLUTELY FREE!

*AND* HE NEVER PAID A DIME FOR IT!

TZ1 A) 82 YEAR OLD SCAMMED-VO WIPE

TZ1 B) MANSION SQUATTER-VO TOPS

TZ1 C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

MANSION SQUATTER-ON CAM

THIS STORY IS ALMOST TOO BIZARRE TO BELIEVE.

A MAN HAS FIGURED OUT HOW TO LIVE IN A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MIAMI MANSION--

FOR *FREE*.

HE JUST WALKED IN AND SQUATTED--

AND HE'S NOT MOVING.

AND SO FAR SOME VERY FRUSTRATED NEIGHBORS--

CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

MANSION SQUATTER-PKG

SO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MANSION BUT DON'T QUITE HAVE

THE MEANS?

TAKE A PAGE OUT OF ANDRE BARBOSA'S PLAYBOOKAND JUST MOVE IN!

FOR BARBOSA. A 23-YEAR OLD NATIVE OF BRAZIL SEEN HERE ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE.

.NO MONEY, NO PROBLEM!

HE'S SITTING PRETTY IN THIS TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR MANSION IN UPSCALE

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA.BUT HE ISN'T PAYING A DIME!

BARBOSA'S SQUATTING - LIVING THERE WITHOUT OWNING THE PLACE - AND FOR NOW,

NOBODY CAN LEGALLY FORCE HIM OUT.

AND BARBOSA'S BEEN THERE SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER - HE MOVED IN AFTER THE LAST

OWNER MOVED OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE.

THE HOUSE HAS BEEN OWNED BY BANK OF AMERICA SINCE LAST JULY.

there has been so many foreclosures that there has been a loss of control of

property.

AND BARBOSA TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE.

HE FILED LEGAL PAPERS CITING "ADVERSE POSSESSION" - AN OBSCURE 19TH CENTURY

STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS SOMEONE TO CLAIM AN EMPTY PROPERTY BY OCCUPYING IT AND

PAYING PROPERTY TAX FOR SEVEN YEARS.

HE EVEN POSTED THIS NO TRESPASSING NOTICE.

HIS NEW NEIGHBORS ARE NOT AMUSED.

nobody's happy. we all spent a lot of money to live on this street

BUT IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE - ADVERSE POSSESION IS LEGAL IN ALL FIFTY

STATES!

IN BARBOSA'S CASE, BANK OF AMERICA TOLD ABC NEWS: " WE HAVE FILED THE

APPROPRIATE AND IMMEDIATE LEGAL ACTION TO HAVE THIS TRESPASSER REMOVED FROM

MANSION SQUATTER-TAG

KAREN TRAVERS REPORTING.

FOR NOW-- BARBOSA CONTINUES TO LIVE THE LIFE OF LUXURY FOR FREE.

TEASE TWO------------

A POPULAR WATERWAY IN COLLIER COUNTY--

IS ALMOST UNUSABLE!

THIS SUMMER'S STORMS FILLED THE CHANNEL WITH SAND--

NOW BOATERS SAY THEY WANT SOMETHING DONE.

AND SOMEONE CUT DOWN A VERY OLD--

AND IMPORTANT CEDAR TREE.

TONIGHT NBC2 IS TRYING TO TRACK DOWN WHO DID IT--

TZ2 A) DOCTORS PASS DREDGING-VO WIPE

TZ2 B) STOLEN CEDAR TREE-VO TOPS

JIM WX OPEN-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

BIG WARM UP ON THE WAY

Friday was a gorgeous day, but hey if you keep up with our forecasts… You expected that! Right? Thankfully we'll see a continuation of this pleasant weather through the weekend, too!

Temperatures Friday morning dropped to 50° here in town with middle and upper 40s across our northern and inland cold spots. Through the evening quiet conditions will stay in place and temperatures will fall into the 60s before slipping into the lower 50s first thing Saturday morning. So just slightly warmer than the early morn on Friday!

A weak front will try to make its way toward Southwest Florida early Saturday, but before it does it will simply run out of steam and not have any effect on our weather. This means our rain free, sunny pattern continues all the way into the weekend with no significant cool downs in sight.

In fact, over the next few days we'll add a degree or two to the afternoon temperatures with 80° readings in the forecast as early as Sunday. Want to hear something crazy? We'll actually hit 84 degrees on our last Wednesday of January! Overnight temperatures will cool into the upper 50s to low 60s through early next week. Those lows will eventually start bottoming out in the mid 60s by Thursday.

DOCTORS PASS DREDGING-ON CAM

TONIGHT--

COLLIER COUNTY BOATERS ARE ANGRY OVER THE CONDITION OF A POPULAR WATERWAY IN NAPLES.

TROPICAL STORMS FROM LAST SUMMER PUSHED LOADS OF SAND INTO DOCTORS PASS.

SOME PARTS OF THE WATERWAY ARE ONLY THREE FEET DEEP AT LOW TIDE--

AND OFFICIALS SAY THAT IT'S BECOME EVEN MORE HAZARDOUS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

DOCTORS PASS DREDGING-PKG

Rick Ritter/13:22:33 "Doctors Pass formed 2 hazardous spots for boaters over the past few months - shallow areas that can leave boats stuck on sandbars or even cause them to run into one another when passing by. Now boaters say its more than just two dangerous spots - and the worst part is, helping isn't coming anytime soon."

FOR NAPLES BOATERS BOB REYNEN AND AL KATZ - THE DUO KNOWS DOCTORS PASS LIKE THE BACK OF THEIR HAND - WATCHING IT DETERIORATE DAY AFTER DAY.

Bob Reynen/Naples/12:49:29 "I have not seen the pass this shallow."

THE PASS CONTINUES TO FILL UP WITH SAND - ALL BECAUSE OF TROPICAL STORMS THAT CREATED MULTIPLE SHOALS LAST SUMMER.

Bob Reynen/12:50:37 As that happens it becomes more shallow and that presents enormous dangers for boaters."

DANGERS SUCH AS BOATS GETTING STUCK ON SANDBARS - ONES THAT REYNEN AND KATZ GAVE US A FIRST HAND LOOK AT DURING A PART OF THE DAY WHERE THE PASS IS THE DEEPEST, HIGH TIDE.

Al Katz/12:45:09 "It's 5 feet - 5 feet at high tide."

BUT AT LOW TIDE THE PASS HAS AREAS THAT ARE ONLY THREE FEET DEEP - SHALLOW ENOUGH FOR A CHILD TO STAND AT THE BOTTOM AND STILL HAVE THEIR HEAD STICKING OUT.

Bob Reynen/12:51:37 "I would not go out in low tide or even close to low tide."

WHAT STARTED OUT AS TWO SHALLOW AREAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED INTO THREE - A HAZARDOUS CONCERN THAT HAS EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

Mayor John Sorey/Naples/3:35 "The new wildcard is the sandbar that developed north to west."

ONE THAT'S CAUSING BOATERS TO DEMAND EMERGENCY WORK.

Al Katz/12:58:07 "It has to be dredged."

THE PASS IS ON A DREDGING SCHEDULE EVERY FOUR YEARS - THE LAST ONE BEING IN 2009.

DREDGING WON'T BE CHEAP - IT'LL COST AROUND EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO THE JOB.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PLAN TO ADDRESS THE PASS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT A FEBRUARY MEETING - WHERE THEY'LL DEVELOP A SURVEY TO ASSES THE DAMAGE - BUT OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE NOT BANKING ON WORK GETTING DONE BEFORE TURTLE NESTING SEASON.

Mayor John Sorey/Naples/3:45 "That's a challenge to get it done before May. We should have everything in place by March then we'll asses it."

BRONZE BUST-VO WIPE

A WELL KNOWN COLLIER COUNTY MANAGER-- THE LATE JAMES MUDD-- IS NOW MEMORIALIZED IN BRONZE.

A BRONZE BUST OF THE COUNTY MANAGER-- WHO PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER--

WAS UNVEILED TODAY AT THE JAMES MUDD EMERGENCY SERVICES CENTER.

MUDD SERVED AS COUNTY MANAGER FROM 2002 TO 2009-- WHEN HE DIED.

BRONZE BUST-SOTVO

"The fact that the building was named after jim was a tremendous honor to him and the fact that somebody wanted to ahev a bust made to remember him by is wonderful."

STOLEN CEDAR TREE-2 SHOT

IT'S BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS,

BUT TONIGHT A RARE NATIVE TREE IS MISSING!

THE TREE WAS CHOPPED DOWN FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY SOMETIME IN THE LAST WEEK.

STOLEN CEDAR TREE-PKG

Cullum Hasty knows his trees.

This week-on a walk on his property- he felt something wasn't right,

Sot cullum

At first I just thought, something's wrong, something's missing and then I realized omg the cedar trees gone."

The 100 year old tree- not where it should be.

Instead- this stump was in its place.

Sot cullum

When I first got here the other day it was covered up with rubble, and it looks like someone was attempting to hide that fact that it had been removed."

Not an easy job-

Considering the tree was about 30 feet tall and 34 inches across.

Sot cullum

Whoever was handling the saw did a good job, it's nice and flush and flat and flat.

His thought-

Sot cullum

I think it was stolen."

Sot joelle

" this tree is close to a roadway and close to power lines, our first thought- maybe someone was told to take the tree down."

Sot cullum

You have to immediately think that because they are overhead, but these lines are dead."

We checked in with Florida power and light, the city and waste management- no one seems to know anything about the missing tree.

Now the tree board is hunting for answers.

Sot cullum

Being a rare, native tree- they're protected."

A tree this big- valued at more than 3 thousand dollars if sold.

Sot cullum

This wood has always been exceptionally prized for its aroma, it's used to line closets, it's used to make cigar boxes."

The lee county sheriffs office is now also involved.

The owner- hoping to plant a new seedling like this,

But it will take another 100 years to fill the same space.

Sot cullum

You don't just get that back, if we find out who did it, and I I hope we do, we'll get the wood back and have the satisfaction of catching a thief, but we won't get the live tree back."

TEASE THREE-2SHOT

HEARTBREAK FOR AN 82-YEAR OLD WOMAN.

:52 "he told me who he was from the publisher's clearing house and that i had won 5.5 million."

BUT TURNS OUT SHE LOST NEARLY EVERYTHING!

HER LIFE SAVINGS. GONE!

TZ3 A) 82 YEAR OLD SCAMMED-SOTVO WIPE

AHEAD AT 6-BANNER

A)

SWFL STATE PARKS RUNS-ON CAM, BNR

IF YOU ENJOY RUNNING--

YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE PART IN A SERIES OF RUNS AT ALL SEVEN STATE PARKS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE "REAL FLORIDA RUN" WILL TAKE PLACE EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON--

STARTING FEBRUARY 10TH--

AND ENDING ON MARCH 24TH.

EACH EVENT FEATURES A 5K RUN OR WALK--

AND A 10K RUN.

YOU HAVE TO REGISTER ONLINE--

AND WE'VE POSTED ALL THE INFO AND LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE--

NBC DASH TWO DOT COM.

TOSS TO MEAGHAN-2 SHOT

A DISABLED NORTH FORT MYERS WOMAN FELL FOR A DEVASTATING SCAM.

THE MAN PROMISED HER 5-MILLION DOLLARS AND A NEW CAR.

SHE THOUGHT HER LIFE WAS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER--

BUT AS MEAGHAN SMITH EXPLAINS--

82 YEAR OLD SCAMMED-PKG

SHE CAN'T SLEEP.

SHE CAN BARELY EAT.

4:46 "it just makes me feel bad- i'm upset."

82 YEAR-OLD ELMA CASTO IS HEARTBROKEN.

7600 DOLLARS OF THE DISABLED WOMAN'S MONEY IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF A SCAMMER.

THAT'S ALMOST EVERYTHING SHE HAD.

4:16 "i had a little savings, but that's about gone."

MONDAY AFTERNOON-

THE PHONE RANG AT ELMA'S NORTH FORT MYERS HOME.

ON THE OTHER END-

A MAN, WHO PROMISED TO MAKE HER LIFE A LOT EASIER.

:52 "he told me who he was from the publisher's clearing house and that i had won 5.5 million."

BUT IN ORDER TO GET HER PRIZE,

WHICH ALSO INCLUDED A NEW CAR-

ELMA WAS INSTRUCTED TO SEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THROUGH PREPAID CARDS AND MONEY ORDERS.

SHE DID EVERYTHING SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO.

3:51 "i believed him- because he kept saying you're going to get your 5.5 million"

IT GETS EVEN WORSE-

THE SCAMMER TOLD THE ELDERLY WOMAN THAT A BRINKS TRUCK WOULD BE COMING TO HER HOME-

TO PICK HER UP,

AND THEY ALL GO TO THE BANK TO GET PICTURES MADE WITH HER WINNINGS.

ELMA WAS TOLD TO PUT ON HER FANCIEST DRESS.

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S DISABLED-

AND IT'S HARD FOR HER,

SHE DID AND WAITED BY THE FRONT DOOR ALL DAY.

NO ONE EVER SHOWED UP.

ELMA CALLED A NEIGHBOR, WHO TOLD HER SHE NEEDED TO CALL THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

13:58 "if it sounds too good to be true- it probably is."

WE TRACKED DOWN THE SCAMMER-

WHO HAS A JAMAICAN NUMBER.

Nat

HE HUNG UP ON US AS SOON AS HE FOUND OUT WHO WE WERE.

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING.

82 YEAR OLD SCAMMED-TAG

THAT WAS MEAGHAN SMITH.

THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS OFFERING WORKSHOPS FOR SENIORS--

SO THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

FOR A LIST OF THE TIMES AND LOCATIONS--

SELL THE 6PM-2SHOT

COMING UP AT SIX.

NBC 2 HAS EXCLUSIVE VIDEO THAT PUT A NAPLES POLICE OFFICER IN HOT WATER TONIGHT.

AND THE COST OF TOMATOES COULD DOUBLE -- ALL BECAUSE OF A FUED YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT.