Minnesota Man Accused Of Abusing POA, Pocketing Refinance Proceeds On Dying Mother's Home

In St. Louis County, Minnesota, the Duluth News Tribune reports:

• A Twin Cities man made his first appearance in St. Louis County District Court on Thursday accused of stealing about $170,000 from his vulnerable mother. [...] According to the complaint, Vicki Gilbertson [the defendant's mother] was diagnosed in January 2007 with brain cancer. She also suffered from dementia and aphasia. At the time of her diagnosis of cancer she had more than $160,000 in her bank accounts. When she died at age 58 on July 22, 2007, her two bank accounts had negative balances of -$9,880.51 and -$944.00.

According to the story, among the sources of cash allegedly pocketed was the proceeds of a mortgage refinance on his dying mother's home that is reportedly now in foreclosure.(1)

For more, see Police say man stole $170,000 from mom.

Go here, here, here, here, here, and here for other posts on elder financial abuse.

(1) According to the report, the alleged swindle involved, at least in part, the abuse of authority over the mother's assets under a power of attorney. FinancialAbuseOfElderlyAlpha