| For Immediate Release Case # 09NF1793
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Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FORMER CARETAKER SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR STEALING OVER $100,000 FROM DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS
*Also convicted of stealing from a 93-year-old nearly-blind aunt of another victim
SANTA ANA – A former caretaker for developmentally disabled adults was sentenced today to seven years in state prison for stealing over $100,000 from her clients by writing checks from their accounts. Shandie Marie Lacsamana Rosete, 34, Placentia, pleaded guilty Aug. 4. 2010, to four felony counts of caretaker theft from a dependent adult and a sentencing enhancement for property loss over $100,000. In addition to her prison sentence, Rosete is expected to be ordered to pay over $102,000 in restitution at a restitution hearing on June 3, 2011.
Between January 2004 and December 2007, Rosete worked as a caretaker for Project Independence, an Orange County non-profit that provides employment and independent living services to developmentally disabled adults. The defendant was entrusted to assist her adult clients with managing their money by helping them to set up checking accounts, pay bills, write checks, and make deposits.
Without the knowledge or consent of the victims, Rosete wrote 652 checks to herself from the bank accounts of 14 developmentally disabled adults. One of the 14 victims lived with her 93-year-old, nearly-blind aunt. The 93-year-old woman asked Rosete for assistance with her finances. Rosete also wrote 11 checks to herself or “cash” from this victim’s account.
The Anaheim and Garden Grove Police Departments began investigating the theft after a relative complained to Project Independence that someone was stealing from his developmentally disabled relative.
In September 2010, two victims in this case, both developmentally disabled adults, gave victim impact statements to the court stating that they felt they could no longer trust anyone because of the way Rosete had betrayed them.
Deputy District Attorney Sean O’Brien of the White Collar Crime Team prosecuted this case.
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