Monday, April 22, 2013

NY Woman Accused of Financial Exploitation

A Rochester woman has been charged with multiple felonies in Olmsted County District Court after authorities say she spent more than $17,000 of another woman's money.

Theresa Anne Kuhn, 49, faces two counts of financial exploitation-vulnerable adult, and one count of financial transaction card fraud. She's scheduled to make her first appearance May 9.

Investigators were assigned to the case after a social worker alerted Rochester police to the transactions allegedly made by Kuhn, who had power of attorney for the 76-year-old woman. According to the criminal complaint, the older woman spent about six weeks during 2012 in a senior care services facility, where she was diagnosed with dementia.

During that period, the complaint says, Kuhn made cash withdrawals of $11,289 on the woman's bank accounts, as well as credit card charges of $6,039. When police spoke to Kuhn, she allegedly admitted that none of the money or charges went to benefit the victim. The report says she admitted to gambling and shopping sprees with the cash; the charges allegedly were for clothing and liquor, and to pay her taxes.

Two of the counts are punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both. The other charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.

Full Article and Source:
Woman Accused of Financial Exploitation

3 comments:

Thelma said...

Can the power-of-attorney law be changed somehow to afford more protection against misuse?

StandUp said...

That's the answer, Thelma, not guardianship.

Norma said...

PoA's are dangerous. One has to be 100% sure before giving a PoA ...