A Santa Rosa man pleaded guilty to elder financial abuse and forgery after being accused of stealing $100,000 from his wife’s 97-year-old grandfather and falsely representing himself as a U.S. Marine and a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy.
Paul Tart, 29, could face up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 15 in Sonoma County Superior Court.
Tart obtained power of attorney over his wife’s grandfather without the two knowing and stole more than $100,000 from the elderly man’s account to help support his prescription drug addiction, said sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Raasch. The grandfather contacted investigators Sept. 2 after finding that his checking account was mysteriously overdrawn.
On Sept. 17, authorities searched Tart’s home and found forged documents and canceled checks. They arrested him on suspicion of grand theft and fiduciary elder theft, Raasch said.
Investigators soon learned that Tart had been passing himself off as an active gunnery sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps, when in fact he has never served in any branch of the armed services, Raasch said.
Full Article and Source:
Fake Marine Guilty of Stealing From In-Law, 97
2 comments:
California's Probate Code allows theft by fiduciaries!
Public guardian or conservators given total control of prospective ward's assets without due process.
Grab now; decided capacity later!
That law must be amended!
They think of every angle to prey on the vulnerable.
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