Texas Newspaper Urges Communities to Get More
Aggressive Pursuing Elder-Fraud
San Antonio court fines company that charged elderly woman
$62,000 to provide drapes for five windows
July 24, 2009 After an elderly woman was charged
$62,000 for drapes for five windows, and the company Arrow Upholstery
was fined $102,000, the San Antonio (Tx.) Express-News is urging all
communities to become more aggressive about the prosecution of
elder-fraud.
Many elderly persons are embarrassed or ashamed to
report the crimes against the, the newspaper says in an editorial
published today.
They should not be hesitant to call law
enforcement. These are serious crimes.
The editorial concludes, Aggressive prosecution of
elder-fraud cases wont necessarily put the predators out of business,
but it will make it more difficult for them to expand their operations.
The Express-News points out, In the not too
distant past, such cases were considered civil matters to be resolved
via lawsuit. Not any more.
Legislation allowing such theft cases to be
prosecuted as second-degree felonies if they involve a person over 65
years has greatly raised the stakes, and rightly so.
Every year, more and more of these types of cases
are filed for prosecution.
A growing senior population, a sluggish economy
and children keeping closer tabs on their elderly parents' bank accounts
may all be contributing factors.
The editorial points out that District Attorney
Susan Reed created an elder-fraud division in 2004. It was funded by a
grant from the State of Texas. This is now part of a white-collar crime
unit that employs ten lawyers and six investigators.
The DA told the newspaper that at any one time,
the division is handling 200 active fraud cases involving the elderly
and investigating more.
Following Bexar County's lead, Dallas now has a
lawyer dedicated to elder-fraud cases, and Houston is in the processes
of hiring an elder-fraud prosecutor too.
>>
Read the complete editorial.
>>
Read the case of the elderly woman charged $62,000 for five window
drapes.
