Area woman charged with financial exploitation

Area woman charged with financial exploitation

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Posted: Monday, August 25, 2014 10:39 am

Area woman charged with financial exploitation Kay Fate, kfate@postbulletin.com Post-Bulletin Company, LLC

Authorities acting on a tip from a Rochester financial institution have brought charges against a Chatfield woman they say spent more than $100,000 of someone else's money. Ashley Loraine Dotzenrod, 28, faces two counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and one count of theft by swindle, all felonies.

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She's scheduled to appear Sept. 18 in Olmsted County District Court.

The investigation began Sept. 27, when police were told Dotzenrod had deposited about $50,000 in checks written on the alleged victim's account into her own checking account. The victim is described in the criminal complaint as having "significant difficulty in speech and motor movements," as well as having seizures, all the result of a stroke several years ago.

The woman requires the assistance of others for basic needs, and has a power of attorney to assist in financial matters, the report says, classifying her as a functional vulnerable adult.

In January 2011, the woman named Dotzenrod as her power of attorney; in May 2011, Dotzenrod opened a joint savings account with the woman.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim's former power of attorney said the victim was "frugal" and was "aware of Dotzenrod's spending habits." The woman set up the financial arrangement so if Dotzenrod was going to be paid, the woman would have to write her the check. Since 2009, only one check has been written to Dotzenrod, the records show.

When investigators spoke to the woman in October 2013, she said Dotzenrod "screwed me and stole my money."

Records obtained by law enforcement indicate Dotzenrod made 143 transactions involving the victim's bank account from January 2011 to October 2013, for a total of more than $92,000.

Prior to January 2012, a credit card in the woman's name was paid in full every month, the complaint says. From January 2012 to October 2013, records showed Dotzenrod used the card 14 times, with purchases totaling about $11,800.

The woman told investigators she hadn't given Dotzenrod consent to use the card.

The combined check and credit card activity totals $103,864.

If convicted, each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both.