Attorney charged in fiscal elder abuse, fraud scheme

An 82-year-old attorney is behind bars Tuesday after allegedly embezzling more than $460,000 from a 92-year-old woman and her disabled and dependent son over a four-year period, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Initially the family’s attorney, Daly City resident Albert Boasberg eventually became the financial and medical power of attorney for the elderly woman, who is living with dementia at the Marymount Greenhills Retirement Center in Millbrae, as well as her son, who is in his 60s and living at the Burlingame Long Term Care Center. He allegedly filled out 12 life insurance applications using false information about the man’s medical history and listing himself as the beneficiary and stole some $17,000 from the man’s mother between 2010 and 2014, according to prosecutors.

He pleaded not guilty to felony charges of fiscal elder abuse and insurance fraud Tuesday. Boasberg is facing eight to 10 years in prison after a yearslong investigation produced a warrant for his arrest this week. The thefts were discovered when both facilities, where the victims receive 24-hour care, reported his failure to make monthly payments for the victims’ care to the county Health System’s Adult Protective Services, which resulted in his removal as the victims’ power of attorney in 2015. The county’s Public Guardian has been the victims’ conservator after Boasberg was removed as their attorney, according to prosecutors.

Boasberg is believed to have used the funds for personal reasons, including diversion of some $100,000 to his wife’s home country, the Philippines, and luxury vacations in Las Vegas, according to prosecutors.

Boasberg was ordered to have no contact with either victim when he appeared in court Tuesday and will next appear in court for a motion to reduce his bail, which has been set at $450,000, according to prosecutors.

Full Article & Source: 
Attorney charged in fiscal elder abuse, fraud scheme