Florida Celebrity-Impersonation Scam Case
Florida Woman Arrested After Family Tries to Stop Fake Liam Neeson Scam
The 76-year-old was described by relatives as sending all of her money to the impostor before a family intervention became a misdemeanor battery case.
Domestic disturbance: June 3, 2026 | Release: June 4, 2026 | Bond: $250
Summary
A family attempt to stop an apparent celebrity-impersonation scam ended with a 76-year-old Port St. Lucie woman arrested for allegedly striking her daughter.
Police responded to Judith Barrantes’s home on June 3, 2026, after a domestic disturbance.
Her daughter, 54-year-old Luz Levangie, told officers that Barrantes had been communicating with a man pretending to be actor Liam Neeson and was not thinking clearly.
Another relative, Julio Barrantes, said Judith had been sending all of her money to the person claiming to be the actor.
Barrantes handed her phone to Levangie, who began messaging the suspected scammer. The family appeared to be trying to interrupt the communication and determine what was happening.
Police alleged that Barrantes took the phone back and struck Levangie in the head and arm.
Julio gave a similar account, telling officers that Barrantes became physical while recovering the phone.
Barrantes was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge and released the following afternoon on $250 bond.
The affidavit did not explain how Barrantes first encountered the impostor, how long the communications lasted or how much money was transferred.
It also did not state whether detectives opened a separate financial-fraud investigation.
Celebrity-impersonation scams commonly rely on social media messages, emotional attachment, secrecy and urgent requests for gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. The celebrity usually has no connection to the communication.
1. The Crime
The charged conduct was the alleged striking of Levangie’s head and arm.
The scam explains the family conflict but was not itself charged against Barrantes.
Police treated the contact as domestic battery because the women are family members.
2. Crime Location
The confrontation occurred at Barrantes’s home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
3. Date and Time of the Crime
- Before June 3, 2026Barrantes allegedly communicated with and sent money to an impostor claiming to be Liam Neeson.
- June 3, 2026, eveningRelatives took or used the phone to contact the suspected scammer, and the alleged battery occurred.
- June 3, 2026Port St. Lucie police arrested Barrantes.
- June 4, 2026She was released on $250 bond.
- July 30, 2026No reliable final case disposition or identified scammer had been reported.
4. Police Department
The domestic disturbance was investigated by the Port St. Lucie Police Department.
5. Suspect Name
The defendant is Judith Barrantes.
6. Suspect Age
Barrantes was 76 years old.
7. Charges
| Charge or Issue | Classification | Reported Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic battery | Misdemeanor | Police alleged Barrantes struck her daughter in the head and arm while taking back the phone. | Pending when reported |
| Celebrity-impersonation fraud | Uncharged against Barrantes | Relatives said an unknown person posed as Liam Neeson and received money. | Impostor not publicly identified |
8. Bond Amount
Barrantes was released on $250 bond.
9. Conviction
No conviction had been reported in the battery case.
10. Sentence
No sentence had been imposed.
11. Outcome
Barrantes returned home or to the community after posting bond.
The amount of financial loss and fate of the alleged scammer remained unknown.
12. Victim
The battery victim was Barrantes’s daughter, Luz Levangie.
Barrantes may simultaneously have been a victim of financial fraud. A person can be a scam victim and still face responsibility for separate alleged violence.
Victim Name
The alleged battery victim was Luz Levangie.
Victim Age
Levangie was 54 years old.
How Celebrity Impersonation Scams Work
Scammers create false accounts, claim a private romantic or personal connection and gradually introduce financial emergencies.
They may tell victims that managers, security concerns or contractual restrictions prevent normal video calls and public meetings.
Families should preserve messages and transaction records, contact financial institutions quickly and report suspected fraud rather than confronting a victim with ridicule.
13. Thoughts
The saddest figure in this story may be the space between the mother and daughter, filled by a stranger borrowing a famous face. Scam victims can become fiercely protective of the invented relationship because admitting fraud also means admitting emotional betrayal. That does not excuse alleged violence. It does explain why intervention requires patience, documentation and sometimes professional help instead of a tug-of-war over the phone.
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This article is based on police records, court materials, statutes and published reporting available as of July 30, 2026. Arrests and criminal charges are not proof of guilt. Victim addresses and unnecessary identifying information have been omitted. Court records may change after publication.
