via fox8cleveland:
A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury has indicted a couple who is accused of stealing more than $800,000 from an elderly victim.
According to a press release from Rocky River police, , were indicted for theft, identity fraud and forgery.
The Rocky River Police Department said on September 18, 2018, it was contacted by a retirement home regarding one of the residents. The administrator said it appeared a 94-year-old resident’s family had been taking money from his bank accounts and the resident’s bills were not being paid.
Police said an investigation revealed that the elderly victim had named Lori and Patrick Smith (his wife’s niece and her husband) as powers-of-attorney and executors of his will in 2015 after his wife’s death.
Here is the breakdown of the finances.
- The Smiths used 157 thousand to renovate the home.
- $47,000 in Amazon transactions,
- $25,000 at Costco
- $16,000 at Giant Eagle,
- $25,000 at Lowes,
- $9,000 at QVC and
- $34,000 in cash withdrawals.
- Season tickets for the Cleveland Browns
- Tickets to the 2015 NBA finals
- 2016 Eastern Conference finals
- A car, boat and camping trailer
Police said by the time the assisted living facility contacted them in September, the victim’s estate had been depleted and was down to just $4.94. Once the victim learned what was happening, he revoked access to his accounts, and set up — with the help of the retirement community and the bank– new accounts for the victim’s VA and social security benefits.
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