2 Former Finance Professionals Charged With Exploiting Seniors

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Editor's note: This Shark still wonders why no law enforcement officials ever questioned why Alice R. Gore's stolen and forged annuity checks were cashed in Canadian tribal bank?  A reasonable person would question why Alice's judge, lawyer, banker or GAL didn't report this crime?  Lucius Verenus Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – State commerce officials are advising senior citizens and their families to be vigilant over their bank accounts after two former finance professionals were charged with exploiting senior clients.
Fifty-four-year-old Paul Bardine, of Minnetrista, and 45-year-old John Heath, of Edina, are charged in separate cases, but each faces a count of theft by swindle.
In addition, Bardine is also accused of insurance fraud, as well as stealing more than $270,000 from several clients, including a 79-year-old woman and couple in their 70s.
Heath faces an additional count of identity theft in a case where he’s accused of stealing more than $220,000 from an 88-year-old client with Alzheimer’s disease.
“These cases are a distressing reminder that seniors are often targeted for financial exploitation, and this threat is expected to grow as the senior population itself grows,” said Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, in a statement. “I encourage Minnesota seniors to closely monitor their finances, talk with family members and contact the Commerce Department if anything seems suspicious.”
Authorities say Bardine was a former insurance agent who persuaded several clients to cash out annuities he’d sold them and invest in one of his companies. Bardine then used the money for personal expenses.
As for Heath, a former financial adviser, authorities say he cashed out an annuity owned by his client with Alzheimer’s disease by posing as him in official documents.
Anyone who believes they might be victims of Bardine and Heath is asked to call the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau at 651-539-1617

Chaplain Swindled Elderly Parishioner out of $70,000, Prosecutors Say

By Erica Demarest and Mauricio Peña  on February 23, 2015 5:55am  | Updated on February 23, 2015 8:01am

Eagles of God church, 1132 N. Spaulding Ave., in Humboldt Park

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DNAinfo/Mauricio Pena

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A chaplain who once was convicted of murder is now facing charges of swindling nearly $70,000 from an elderly congregant who can't read or write.
Authorities allege Enrique Borges, 50, was working as a chaplain at Eagles of God church, 1132 N. Spaulding Ave., when an 84-year-old man came in looking for help.
The Humboldt Park man — who only speaks Spanish and can't read or write — told a pastor he was afraid his neighbors would steal his money, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said in court last week.
The pastor then connected the victim with Borges, who wore a chaplain badge every time the pair met, Scaduto said.
In early January, the elderly man gave Borges power of attorney, prosecutors said, and issued him two cashier's checks totaling nearly $100,000.
Borges then brought the victim to a Chase branch and opened a joint account, police said. According to Scaduto, Borges told bank employees he was the man's son-in-law and English interpreter.
The victim had no idea that Borges added himself to the account, police said, and didn't authorize Borges' actions.
On Jan. 29, Borges transferred $12,390 to his own personal bank account, according to a police report. On Feb. 3, he transferred an additional $55,000, the report said.
Police said Borges made $499.34 worth of purchases on the victim's debit card, and withdrew $3,860 of the victim's money.
The victim realized what had happened on Feb. 4 when he visited the bank, Scaduto said. Accounts were frozen on Feb. 6 and Borges was arrested at Chase, 7180 W. Grand Ave., on Tuesday.
Scaduto said Borges was carrying the victim's credit card and personal documents, and he admitted to opening the account and transferring money.
Borges, of the 2800 block of North Mobile Avenue in Belmont Cragin, was charged with identity theft and financial exploitation of the elderly.
Borges was previously convicted in a 1982 gang-related murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
On Sunday, Eagles of God Pastor Alberto Arias defended Borges.
He told DNAinfo Chicago that the 84-year-old man came in early January asking for help. According to Arias, the man told the pastor that people "were attempting to kill him and steal his money."
"In my humble opinion, I thought he was a bit paranoid," Arias said.
The man, who briefly lived in the church facility in the 1980s, returned for assistance, and although Arias recommended he look into assisted living facilities due to his declining health, he allowed the man to stay in the church, Arias said.
During that time, Borges, who was the assistant director of chaplains, helped the man move into the church, and took him to doctor's appointments and running errands, Arias said.
Arias said the man asked Borges to add his name to the bank account. Arias cautioned Borges against it.
"I don't like that idea," Arias recalled saying, reminding Borges of the man's constant fear of having his money stolen. "Be careful, be careful, be careful."
Despite his warnings, Borges agreed to have his name added to the account, Arias said.
After hearing about the arrest, Arias was still surprised.
"I warned [Borges], this man is difficult and needed attention and constant care," Arias said. "But [Borges] felt bad and wanted to help."
If any money was spent, it was all spent on the 84-year-old man to buy clothing, food and a bed, Arias added.
"Borges is a good man with good intentions," Arias said. "I feel sorry for him."
Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan on Thursday ordered Borges held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Area woman charged with financial exploitation

Area woman charged with financial exploitation

•            

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.

St. Paul lawyer disbarred for theft, fraud

Editor's note: This Shark finds the IARDC's comments that nothing is wrong with two attorneys withholding the final documents of the Estate of Alice R. Gore from her daughter for over a year as standard IARDC procedure.  It appears that they may investigate the third attorney...who died earlier this month.  Why can't Illinois have some of this Minnesota type justice imported into the Probate Court of Cook County? I mean...we don't have a paucity of thieves in Illinois. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

 

St. Paul lawyer disbarred for theft, fraud

• Article by: DAVID CHANEN , Star Tribune
• Updated: July 23, 2014 - 9:42 PM

Linda Brost stole $43,000 of client money and stole his identity.

 

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A St. Paul attorney has been disbarred for stealing her client’s money and identity, the Minnesota Supreme Court said in an order Wednesday.
Linda Brost, 62, who now lives in Spooner, Wis., stole $43,000 and failed to cooperate in an investigation by the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, which filed a disciplinary petition against her in December 2013.
Brost’s troubles started in 2009, when she was suspended indefinitely for using the expired notary stamp of a dead person to fraudulently notarize her own signature on a trust certificate for a client. She later submitted the document to a bank, the petition alleged.
Brost’s theft started with a will she drafted for Arthur Fischbach, who died Sept. 11, 2005. Around the time Fischbach died, Brost altered the date on her dead husband’s expired notary stamp and forged his signature to notarize her own signature on a certificate of trust prepared for Fischbach. After he died, she presented the fraudulently notarized document to BankCherokee in a failed effort to access Fischbach’s funds, which totaled about $140,000.
She also obtained $43,000 from Fischbach’s insurance company by making false statements and stealing his identity.
In March 2009, after learning of these events, the Minnesota Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Brost from practicing law. Brost then allegedly set up an e-mail account in Fischbach’s name and had his mail redirected to a house she owns in St. Paul. She also opened a checking account in his name in February 2011, six years after his death, and wrote letters purportedly from him as she tried to tap his money, authorities said.
Last year, criminal charges were filed against Brost for theft by swindle, identity theft, and aggravated forgery of a document and insurance fraud. She pleaded guilty.
In its order, the Supreme Court wrote that Brost’s misconduct harmed the public and legal profession in multiple ways.

David Chanen • 612-673-4465