| For Immediate Release Case # 08CF3103 March 4, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
DAUGHTER OF CARETAKER CHARGED AS ADDITIONAL
CO-DEFENDANT IN PARENTS’ FRAUD CASE
*Mother charged with stealing money from elderly victims for shopping, travel, and a “dog whisperer”; father charged after media coverage led to additional victims coming forward
NEWPORT BEACH – The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) filed charges today against the daughter of a caretaker accused of stealing money from elderly victims for personal purchases. Anastasia Darlena Mendezkestler, 22, Laguna Niguel, is charged with two felony counts each of accessory after the fact and receiving stolen property, second degree commercial burglary, fraudulently using an access card, and sentencing enhancements for loss over $100,000, property loss over $200,000, and white collar crime over $500,000. Mendezkestler was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) today, March 4, 2011, and faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison if convicted of all counts. Mendezkestler is expected to be arraigned Monday, March 7, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
Mendezkestler’s mother, Norma Ruth Casini, 51, Laguna Niguel, is charged with 34 felony counts of fraudulently using an access card, 24 felony counts of forgery, four felony counts of caretaker theft from an elder, three felony counts of residential burglary of an occupied home, one felony count each of identification theft, accessory after the fact, receiving stolen property, and second degree burglary. She is charged with sentencing enhancements for loss over $100,000, property loss over $200,000, white collar crime over $500,000, and having a non-accomplice present. If convicted of all counts, Casini faces a maximum sentence of 49 years and eight months in state prison.
Leno Cassini, 56, Laguna Niguel, Norma Casini’s husband and Mendezkestler’s mother, is charged with two felony counts each of accessory after the fact and receiving stolen property and one felony count each of second degree burglary and fraudulently using an access card. He was arrested by OCSD Feb. 17, 2011, at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, where he works as an administrative assistant. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison.
The defendants are each in custody on $610,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. Norma and Leno Casini are scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing March 15, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1.
Charges Against Norma Casini
Victim Nancy W., 85, has required 24-hour in-home care in her Laguna Woods home since 2002. The victim has no family support and hired a caregiver service, LivHOME, to provide for her needs and basic care. LivHOME caregivers are paid by the company and are not to accept money directly from their client.
Norma Casini was employed by LivHOME and is accused of being entrusted to care for Nancy W. from November 2006 to March 2009. Without the knowledge or permission of the victim, Norma Casini is accused of stealing approximately $610,000 from Nancy W.’s bank accounts and credit card.