SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A woman who stole money, checks and credit cards from elderly residents at two San Diego County assisted living facilities has been sentenced to four years in county jail, the California Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday.
Nema Yasin Mohamed, 28, stole from seven victims while working at La Vida Del Mar in Solana Beach and Wesley Palms Senior Living in San Diego, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office.
Despite having two prior convictions for financial elder abuse and similar crimes, she was able to work with senior citizens by using her sister's identity and threatened her sibling in order to use her identifying information, according to prosecutors.
While working at the facilities, she took IDs, credit cards, checks, and cash from victims' rooms, then used the stolen funds to buy merchandise from various retail stores. The total loss was valued at around $18,000, according to Bonta's office.
According to a prosecution sentencing memorandum, Mohamed was also accused of identify theft while working at Harrah's Resort Southern California, in which unauthorized charges were discovered on guests' credit cards.
She also allegedly stole money from one person while working as a Lyft driver, in which she was accused of driving an intoxicated man to his residence, then taking "property, electronics, credit cards and IDs in an amount of over $10,000" from his home.
Mohamed was charged with 31 felony counts last year and pleaded guilty in May to four felony counts, including grand theft and financial elder abuse.
"Stealing from senior citizens doesn't only rob them of their cash, it robs them of their independence and endangers their overall financial health," Bonta said. "Today's sentencing is a step towards justice for those whose money and belongings were stolen from them. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to protect our elders, and all other vulnerable communities, against financial exploitation."
