Monday, December 21, 2009

Facing 38 Charges of Grand Theft & Financial Elder Abuse

A Utah man was arrested by California authorities, who worked for more than a year to secure his return from the Republic of the Philippines to face charges for allegedly taking $270,000 in annuity distributions from a senior citizen.

Donald Martin Steffensen, 70, of Saint George, Utah, was recently arrested by California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigators and members of the Madera County District Attorney’s Office.

Steffensen faces 38 felony counts of grand theft and financial elder abuse.

California insurance department investigators learned that Steffensen, between 2002 and 2005, used his position of trust as a life agent for a senior citizen (now deceased) to embezzle and convert for his own use more than $270,000 from an annuity owned by the senior. Authorities say some of the annuity distributions were allegedly stolen by Steffensen after his victim had passed away.

Full Article and Source:
Former Utah Life Insurance Agent Returned to U.S. to Face 38 Charges

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

$270,000? How long did it take for this to show up?

Betty said...

If 38 charges equaled 38 years in jail, that would be about right.

Max said...

Any chance of resitution for the victim?