Police Arrest and Charge Hilo Woman with Property Offenses

Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 33-year-old Natrea Santiago of Hilo with multiple financial crimes after an investigation revealed more than $10,000 in unauthorized charges to the credit card of a 92-year-old man.

On Monday, April 20, 2026, police arrested Santiago on the strength of an arrest warrant. 

The investigation began in December 2025 after a family member discovered numerous unauthorized online charges on the elderly victim’s credit card account. The charges continued even after the card was replaced.

Investigators determined that Santiago, who had been hired through a business to provide caregiver services for the victim, had access to the victim’s credit card and used it without authorization. The total amount of unauthorized charges exceeded $10,000. The business cooperated with investigators throughout the case.

On Monday, April 20, following consultation with the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Santiago was charged with the following offenses:

• First-degree theft
• First-degree identity theft
• Unauthorized possession of personal confidential information
• Fraudulent use of a credit card

Her bail was set at $70,000.

Under Hawai‘i Revised Statutes §708-830.5, first-degree theft includes theft of property from a person 60 years of age or older when the offender knows or reasonably should know the victim’s age. Offenses involving elderly victims are treated with increased seriousness due to their vulnerability.

“Oftentimes, our elderly are taken advantage of by people they trust,” said Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division. “We take these cases very seriously. Our kupuna are vulnerable and we are committed to thoroughly investigating these types of financial crimes.” The Hawai‘i Police Department reminds the public to remain vigilant in protecting elderly family members and to monitor financial accounts for suspicious activity.