Caregiver Sentenced to Five Years for Financial Elder Abuse

Written by Adam Peck Category: Elder Law January 26th, 2013 2 min read

A caregiver was sentenced in October, 2009 to five years in prison for stealing more than $315,000 from a 92-year-old Laguna Woods woman by using the victim’s debit card and forging checks from her bank account.

Susana Duran, 38, of Tijuana, Mexico, pleaded guilty to financial elder abuse by a caregiver, plus a sentencing enhancement for fraud over $250,000.

Duran was also ordered to pay restitution.

The elderly victim will receive more than $50,000 immediately, including $34,000 in bank account assets and $17,000 in cash found on Duran when she was arrested, according to a new release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Duran started working as an in-home caregiver for the 92-year-old victim in January 2008, commuting from her home in Mexico and working shifts up to 24 hours at a time.

She stole the victim’s debit card and personal identification number to make multiple daily cash withdrawals of $500 at a time, and to make purchases such as gasoline and a computer, according to Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche, of the Major Fraud Unit.

Duran also forged 24 checks to herself and her husband for more than $137,000, LaBreche said.

The thefts were uncovered when Duran called in sick one day and another caregiver showed the victim a bank statement which had arrived that day in the mail.

Duran was arrested on Oct. 5 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department when she arrived for work at the victim’s home.

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Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.