Caregiver in Port Charlotte accused of stealing $30K from veteran

A Port Charlotte Vietnam veteran says he felt “violated” after deputies say a caregiver he trusted stole tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of personal property from inside his home.

Charlotte County deputies arrested Irlene Innocent Saint Armand, accusing her of stealing jewelry and cash from Michael Kraft, an elderly and disabled veteran who relies on in-home care.

Kraft says while the dollar amount was significant, the emotional impact ran much deeper.

“You feel really violated when you’re stolen from,” Kraft said.

According to the arrest report, Kraft reported jewelry and cash missing from a large safe inside his home in December. Investigators say Saint Armand, one of his caregivers, pawned some of the stolen items, a move that ultimately led detectives to her.

Among the items Kraft says were taken was a rare 22-karat gold necklace he purchased during his travels overseas, including trips to Dubai. He says that the necklace is still missing.

“It isn’t so much the money,” Kraft said. “The gold jewelry bothered me especially the necklace because I’ll never replace that.”

Kraft says the most troubling part was not just the theft, but how it happened.

“The fact that she got into my safe concerns me,” he said. “It’s a vault. It’s a huge safe.”

Deputies say the case highlights the vulnerability of people who depend on in-home care and the importance of taking extra precautions.

“ Unfortunately, one of the people that was providing care decided to steal some belongings from that person, over $30,000 worth of jewelry and currency and unfortunately took advantage of this individual.” said Chris Hall, public information officer for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

He also urged families to be aware.

“Anytime you’re having somebody come into your home that you don’t personally know, take extra steps to secure your belongings,” Hall said.

Saint Armand faces multiple felony charges, including:

• Grand theft from a person 65 or older
• Dealing in stolen property
• Exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult

Saint Armand’s former employer, Visiting Angels shared this statement with WINK News,

“Visiting Angels has been made aware of the recent report concerning the arrest of a caretaker accused of stealing property from a client in Port Charlotte. The individual involved was immediately terminated and is no longer associated with our organization.

The safety, dignity, and well-being of those we serve are our highest priorities. All caregivers undergo multiple background checks prior to placement, and we maintain strict screening and oversight protocols across our entire company.

We take these matters extremely seriously and our teams have been cooperating with the local authorities. Our thoughts are with the client and family impacted, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of care, integrity, and accountability.”

Despite what happened, Kraft says he is not living in fear. He says he has multiple security systems and cameras in his home and regularly checks them. He also stressed that this case should not define caregivers as a whole.

Kraft says he still has deep respect for caregivers and the work they do but hopes others who rely on in-home care will take extra precautions, including securing valuables and checking security systems regularly.

Saint Armand has bonded out of jail and is expected to appear in court on Friday.