NY dentist allegedly scammed out of $15k by woman threatening a lawsuit. Police were waiting when she came back for more

A New York woman is accused of getting a dentist to hand over more than $15,000 by threatening legal action over an alleged botched dental procedure. Kayla M. Phillips, 28, of Rome, was arrested on Nov. 3 and charged with third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony.

The allegations reportedly began with a series of hostile text messages sent to the dentist by someone claiming to be a former patient. The sender accused him of botching a previous procedure and threatened to take the matter to court.

According to Wealth of Geeks, the person offered to settle the dispute outside court for $40,000. Concerned about the prospect of a lawsuit and the possible damage to his professional reputation, the dentist agreed to pay. He allegedly transferred around $7,000 through Cash App.

The dentist also reportedly met the person in New Hartford, where he handed over another $5,000 in cash. The demands continued, eventually leading to another meeting being arranged for November 3.

The dentist’s family urged him to contact police

The dentist eventually told his family about the situation. They questioned whether the sender was actually a former patient and whether the settlement demand was legitimate. Their concerns prompted him to contact the New Hartford Police Department.

The next exchange was scheduled for around 2 p.m. outside Beacon Bank on Seneca Turnpike. After learning about the arrangement, police prepared to intervene. Officers and undercover investigators from the department’s Criminal Investigation Division positioned themselves near the bank ahead of the meeting. They were waiting for the person expected to collect the additional money.

Phillips was arrested after another cash handoff

Phillips allegedly arrived at the agreed location and collected several thousand dollars from the dentist. Officers moved in shortly afterward and arrested her at the scene. The alleged payments had reached more than $15,000 by then, which included the Cash App transfer and the cash handed over during the earlier meetings.

Under New York Penal Law Section 155.05, larceny includes obtaining property through fraudulent representations. Section 155.35 classifies the offense as third-degree grand larceny when the value of the property exceeds $3,000.

The amount Phillips is accused of taking would put the alleged offense above that threshold. However, prosecutors will still have to establish the allegations through the court process. Phillips was released on an appearance ticket following her arrest. She is expected to appear for arraignment later in November 2026. She has not been convicted of the charge.