A California woman granted power of attorney by two elderly assisted living residents was arraigned last week for defrauding them of $288,000 and putting them at risk of eviction, the state attorney general announced Friday.
The defendant, Kymberly Sue Adams, was employed to help the residents with their financial affairs and living arrangements. Instead, she gained complete access to the victims’ funds and used them for personal gain, according to the office of Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Billing records obtained from the victims’ assisted living community allowed the California Department of Justice and local police to tie the defendant to suspicious financial conduct. Adams did not pay facility board and care costs, putting the two victims at risk of eviction, the DOJ reported. The victims were each over 65 years old, dependent and suffering from “an impaired cognitive condition,” the DOJ noted.
A criminal investigation conducted by DOJ’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse resulted in the filing of eight felony charges against Adams, including financial elder abuse, grand theft of personal property, and money laundering.
“Decisions that affect a client’s financial status should be made based on the client’s best interest. Our senior citizens shouldn’t have to live in fear of becoming the next victim of financial elder abuse,” Bonta said in a statement.
Having taken in excess of $100,000, Adams was denied probation.
