By Susannah Rosenblatt
March 10, 2009
The live-in caretaker of an 84-year-old Huntington Beach woman allegedly took out fraudulent loans in her name, bilking her out of about $200,000 and putting the woman’s home in danger of foreclosure, authorities said today.
Cindi Dee Powell, 54, has been charged with financial elder abuse, grand theft, identity theft, vehicle theft, fraud and forgery. She remains in custody.
According to police, Powell moved in with Constance Wakefield about two years ago to help the wheelchair-bound woman around the house and drive her to appointments. Wakefield hired Powell through a classified ad and did not know that Powell was on probation for previous financial elder abuse.
Beginning in 2006, police said, Powell took out fraudulent loans on Wakefield’s home and opened bank accounts in her name, using the money to buy and sell cars — including Wakefield’s — among other purchases.
“We don’t know where the money’s gone,” said Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Greg Davis. Powell “must have been buying things, and the paper trail kind of ends. The money’s not there.”
As a result, Wakefield is now underwater on her mortgage and faces possible foreclosure, Davis said.
Police were alerted to investigate Powell after bank employees became concerned over Powell bringing in the elderly woman to withdraw $400 every few days and reported the situation to adult protective services. According to police, Powell duped Wakefield and eventually obtained power of attorney over her.
“The suspect’s got a real strong personality, kind of overtook Connie’s life and was running everything,” Davis said.
Wakefield is living in a care facility because of a broken foot. Her daughter lives in South Africa, Davis said, and Wakefield will probably move there.
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