Bessemer Man Allegedly Defrauded Elderly Family Member of Over $500,000, Federal Indictment Reveals

A Bessemer man faces federal charges for allegedly defrauding an elderly family member of over $500,000.

Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, has been indicted on two counts of wire fraud, according to an announcement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.

The indictment alleges that in September 2023, Pruitt obtained a Power of Attorney over the victim—an elderly family member—without their knowledge or consent. Between September and December 2023, Pruitt is accused of executing a scheme to defraud the victim by becoming a joint account holder on the victim’s bank accounts, removing and adding payable on death (POD) beneficiaries on the accounts, and transferring over $500,000 from the victim’s accounts to his own personal accounts.

The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan S. Rummage is handling the prosecution.

If convicted, Pruitt could face up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on August 15.