NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — A Hilliard woman is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say she stole more than $2,000 from an elderly family member to purchase illegal drugs and brought her children to multiple drug transactions.
According to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old Dakota Cheyenne McDonald was arrested following an investigation that began on March 11 after Adult Protective Services reported suspected exploitation of an elderly adult.
Detectives determined McDonald allegedly made 74 unauthorized financial transactions from an elderly relative’s account, totaling more than $2,000.
While that investigation was ongoing, McDonald was arrested on March 27 in a separate case in which she was accused of stealing credit cards from elderly victims while working as their designated caretaker. Investigators said she had been terminated from that caregiving position in December 2025.
As part of the March investigation, detectives executed a search warrant for McDonald’s cellphone. According to the sheriff’s office, evidence recovered from the device indicated the unauthorized transactions from her family member’s account were allegedly used to facilitate illegal drug purchases.
Investigators also discovered that McDonald’s children accompanied her during multiple drug transactions.
As a result of the investigation, McDonald was charged with:
- Conspiracy to Sell, Manufacture, or Deliver a Controlled Substance
- Theft from a Person 65 Years of Age or Older (more than $300)
- Exploitation of an Elderly Adult (less than $10,000)
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
- Child Neglect
McDonald was booked into the Nassau County Jail and Detention Center on June 16 on bonds totaling more than $55,000.
“This case is especially disturbing because it involves the exploitation of a family member who should have been able to trust the suspect,” Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said. “Our elderly residents are among the most vulnerable members of our community, and we will continue to investigate anyone who takes advantage of them for personal gain.”
The sheriff’s office said McDonald has also been identified as a suspect in other investigations in Nassau and Clay counties involving allegations that she used her employment as a caretaker to commit criminal activity.