Waterford — Police allege a 24-year-old New London woman swindled a senior female with mental disorders out of more than $2,000 through fraudulent debit card transactions.

Divona Johnson of 20 Lincoln Ave. faces 11 charges including criminal impersonation and larceny after allegedly using an elderly woman's debit card to rack up $2,119 in seven fraudulent cash transfers and purchases between May 30 and June 1 at several area stores and Foxwoods Resort Casino, according to the Waterford Police Department.

Johnson's arrest warrant does not identify the alleged victim but describes her as a woman older than 60 diagnosed with psychological disorders. The woman told police that Johnson was her "home health care aide."

Johnson told police she had served as the woman's aide for about three weeks. Police on Friday night could not confirm whether Johnson was a certified aide.

Waterford Police Officer Eric Lewandoski said he observed Johnson on surveillance camera footage at several locations such as Walgreens, Walmart, Eblens, Burlington Coat Factory and Foxwoods either making small purchases or transferring or withdrawing hundreds of dollars in cash, according to the affidavit. The alleged victim told police Johnson did not have permission to use her debit card, saying, "All she does is lie."

Police arrested Johnson on Friday morning and she is being held on $30,000 bond.

Police also allege that on June 5, Johnson conspired with two Norwich suspects to cash up to $2,000 in fraudulent checks as part of an effort to steal an SUV from the same alleged victim.

Police charged Tremaine Dowdell, 25, of 22 Mopsic St. and Briana Drayton, 24, of 417 Boswell Ave. with attempt to commit a crime and fourth-degree larceny after Lewandoski said he identified them on surveillance footage trying to cash checks from the alleged victim's account, first for $2,000 at the Chelsea Groton Bank at 1 Franklin Square and, less than an hour later, for $1,500 at Chelsea Groton Bank at 444 W. Main St., police said.

The banks declined both transactions because the account was "closed due to fraudulent activity reported" on June 1, police said. After the second failed attempt, police say the bank received a call from Johnson, who allegedly claimed to be the senior woman with the closed checking account. According to bank personnel, the caller provided all of the senior woman's personal information and "was upset that the transaction was not being completed," police said.

When asked by police whether she had ever contacted Chelsea Groton Bank, Johnson told police, "Absolutely not," police said.

The bank later retrieved the phone number from a June 1 call coming from a woman claiming to be the alleged victim and trying to reopen the closed account. That phone number was the same number "Johnson provided to me as her cellular telephone number and which I have communicated with her several times on during my investigation," Lewandoski wrote in the arrest warrant affidavit. Lewandoski also said he identified the caller as Johnson after listening to the bank's audio recording.

Police said they had identified Dowdell in surveillance video accompanying Johnson into multiple stores.

Based on an interview with a salesman at Cardinal Honda, police said they believed Drayton's and Dowdell's failed transactions were an effort to secure a payment Johnson allegedly promised to the dealership by June 5. Police said Johnson was attempting to transfer the vehicle to her name, which the alleged victim did not approve.

The senior woman told police she traveled with Johnson to Cardinal Honda on May 31 and purchased the SUV, which Johnson drove from the dealership, police said. The vehicle was registered in the alleged victim's name.

Johnson allegedly told Lewandoski "she does not believe she is doing anything wrong" and that the woman in her care "told her that she could drive the vehicle."

In the affidavit, Lewandoski said earlier this month he told Johnson by phone to return the vehicle and that it appeared she was "taking advantage of a person with a mental handicap." He said he asked Johnson the location of the SUV, which he had listed as stolen on June 9, but she allegedly refused.

Police said the SUV ranges in price between $20,000 and $23,000.

Johnson was charged with seven counts of illegal use of credit card, second-degree identity theft, criminal impersonation, third-degree larceny and first-degree larceny. Her next court date was not immediately available.

b.kail@theday.com