Las Vegas realtor who scammed ‘best friend’ with dementia appeals conviction, sentence

Las Vegas realtor who scammed ‘best friend’ with dementia appeals

Judge sentences woman to jail time last month

Updated: Mar 1, 2024 / 03:07 PM CST

In court documents, prosecutors included this Facebook post with Sophia Smith and her victim, Cornelius “Connie” Hoffmans, where Smith repeatedly called the now-90-year-old her “best friend.” (KLAS)

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — With weeks left on her jail sentence, a Las Vegas-area realtor convicted of exploiting an older man with dementia out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, while convincing him they were in a relationship even though she is gay, is appealing.

In December, a Clark County jury found Sophia Smith, 50, guilty of exploiting an older or vulnerable person, theft and credit card fraud. In January, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny sentenced Smith to a six-month jail term with a suspended 12-to-30-year prison sentence. If Smith violates her probation within five years, she will have to report to prison, Kierny ordered.

Smith remained in custody Thursday and was due to be released on April 8, records said. Documents filed Feb. 13 indicate Smith was appealing all of her case’s “rulings and judgments,” the jury’s verdict and Kierny’s sentence.

MyVegas Magazine named Smith “a realtor with a purpose” in its 2021 issue featuring the “top 100 real estate professionals.” In court documents, prosecutors included Facebook posts with Smith and her victim, Cornelius “Connie” Hoffmans, where Smith repeatedly called the now-90-year-old her “best friend.”

Hoffmans gave Smith more than $600,000, prosecutors said. Court documents indicate Hoffmans believed he and Smith were dating, though Smith is openly gay.

The money funded a home, an RV and Smith’s gambling debts, documents said. Smith bought the home for $275,000 of Hoffmans’ money, documents said. The Hoffmans family later received the home and RV in a civil lawsuit.

In court, prosecutors said Smith’s nonprofit, the Strong A.R.M. Foundation, which raised money for underprivileged women and children to buy equipment and uniforms, was a scam, with nearly 90% of donations going to Smith directly. The nonprofit’s website was no longer active as of Thursday.

In addition to the jail sentence, Kierny ordered Smith to pay the Hoffmans estate nearly $300,000 in restitution. Smith has not faced charges connected to the foundation.

A hearing on the appeal was scheduled for March 5.