Huntington Beach Fraud, Forgery, and Elder Abuse of 84 Year Old Woman
The latimes.com website reported in a story on March 11, 2009 that the LAPD announced that Cindi Dee Powell, 54 had used an 84 year old woman’s name, robbing her of $200,000, and in doing so the woman now faces possible foreclosure. Police have arrested Powell and have charged her with grand theft, financial elder abuse, identity theft, vehicle theft, fraud, and forgery.
Police reports state that Powell moved in with Constance Wakefield after Wakefield found her classified advertisement. Wakefield requires a wheelchair to move around the house and someone to drive her to appointments. Wakefield had no idea that Powell was already on probation for elder abuse.
Starting sometime in 2006, using Wakefield’s name, Powell took out fraudulent loans and opened bank accounts. Now Wakefield is having trouble making her mortgage payments and could face foreclosure. Wakefield’s only option may be to move in with her daughter who now lives in South Africa.
White collar crimes in California are usually crimes of theft and deception committed by salaried professional people as opposed to other crimes that use force. White collar crimes can be prosecuted at the state level or federal level, or both. Penalties for being convicted of white collar crime typically consist of fines, restitution and, in some cases, prison.
