Woman Accused Of Embezzling From Elderly
Maria Park, 54, Charged With Financial Elder Abuse, Forgery, Other Counts
Posted: 01/24/2011
Last Updated:
877 days ago
A preliminary hearing is scheduled Monday for the operator of three San Diego County residential care facilities accused of embezzling nearly $665,000 from the bank accounts of two elderly residents shortly before and after their deaths.Maria Corazon Park, 54, is charged with financial elder abuse, forgery and other counts.Authorities said Park -- who is licensed to operate two care centers in Chula Vista and one in El Cajon -- endeared herself to 91-year-old Fred Figueroa and 89-year-old George Vickey in order to get access to their money.A suspicious Wells Fargo Bank employee discovered the alleged fraud, authorities said.Park allegedly withdrew $83,000 in three transactions from Figueroa's account, authorities said.When the defendant allegedly tried to withdraw $86,000 more from Figueroa's account, authorities learned he had died.An investigation into other accounts involving Park found that she been added as trustee to accounts belonging to Vickey, who died in 2005.Authorities allege Park embezzled $579,000 from Vickey's accounts.The California Department of Social Services temporarily shut down Park's three centers in December and relocated most residents.At the end of the preliminary hearing Monday, a judge will determine if enough evidence was presented for Park to stand trial.
Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2011 by City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
