Columbia man accused of stealing $15,000 from elderly woman in crypto scam

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been charged with a pair of felonies after authorities claim he stole $15,000 from an elderly woman in a cryptocurrency scam.

Charles Burri, 29, of Columbia, was charged on Thursday in Boone County with financially exploiting an elderly person and stealing more than $750. A warrant was requested on Thursday. He is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster and police wrote in the probable cause statement that Burri is “avoiding law enforcement contact.”

The probable cause statement says police received an email from the 71-year-old victim on Nov. 20 that claimed she invested $15,000 with Burri Asset Management on July 1. Burri allegedly “offered her returns from various crypto investments,” the statement says.

When the victim asked for her money back, Burri allegedly claimed he would give it back, but then stopped communicating with the victim, the statement says.

Court documents say a subpoena of Burri’s bank account showed a $10,000 deposit was made on July 2.

The probable cause statement claims Burri is “suspected in other crimes related to stealing by deceit.”