Caretaker Family Gets Jail Time For Stealing $642K From Elderly
NEWPORT BEACH (CBS) — A caretaker of elderly people joined her husband and daughter in pleading guilty Thursday for stealing about $642,000 from the caretaker's clients.
The caretaker Norma Ruth Casini, 51, was sentenced to 13 years in prison, Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche said.
Casini's husband, Leno Casini, 57, of Laguna Niguel, was sentenced to a year in jail and three years of formal probation. He plead guilty to three felony counts, inclusing accessory after the fact, receiving stolen property and second-degree burglary.
Their daughter, Anastasia Darlena Mendezkestler, 23, pleaded guilty to a felony count of receiving stolen property and sentenced to 93 days in jail and three years of formal probation, Labreche said. She was given credit for time served and was released from custody, Labreche added.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Robert Gannon also ordered Norma Casini to pay $642,000 in restitution and $1.2 million in fines. However, it is unlikely authorities will be able to recover any of the money, which as spent on shopping and traveling, Labreche said.
Norma Casini spent some of the money on Lasik eye surgery for her and her husband, private school for her children, concerts, travel, food and other personal items, Labreche said. The family even acquired the services of a "dog whisperer."
"Quite frankly they have no money," Labreche said.
Authorities have seized a great deal of property from the family, including high-end televisions, jewelry, expensive appliances and $2,500 worth of American Girl dolls, Labreche said. They plan to sell off the property and give the profits to victims, the Labreche said.
Norma Casini cried during the hearing today, Labreche said.
"I think she's more remorseful that she got her family involved in this," Labreche said.
If Norma Casini had not accepted the plea bargain from Labreche and was convicted at trial she could have faced up to 49 years and eight months in prison.
Norma Casini was employed by LivHOME, a caregiver service, and began working for the 85-year-old Laguna Woods woman, who needed 24-hour care, in November 2006, Labreche said.
In March 2009, a LivHOME employee made a surprise visit to the client's home and found Norma Casini was not at work as she was supposed to be, Labreche said.
After Norma Casini was fired, LivHOME officials found that the victim''s savings had been drained from $700,000 in June 2008 to about $5,000, Labreche said.
A daughter of the couple who had been monitoring their checking accounts noticed a little more than $1,000 was taken out without their permission, Labreche said.
Norma Casini took a debit card, changed the personal identification number and used it to make purchases of about $1,150, Labreche said.
She also took the woman's wedding ring and band, which had an inscription of the couple's initials engraved on them, Labreche said.
There were a total of six victims, Labreche said.
Norma Casini also stole a credit card and took out another one in the name of a client with permission who was 93 years old and had Alzheimer's disease, according to prosecutors.
Norma Casino also stole $6,000 in cash from the home of another elderly couple she was caring for in December, according to prosecutors.
Leno Casini took the rings to a pawn shop in Irvine and told the broker the rings belonged to his dead mother, Labreche said.
Mendezkestler received stolen money from her mother that she used to pay for her divorce, medical insurance, dentistry, pets, toys, furniture and electronics, according to the District Attorney's Office.
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