A woman in Connecticut allegedly defrauded her husband out of more than half a million dollars by reportedly convincing him he had Alzheimer’s so he wouldn’t try to work with the finances.
63-year-old Donna Marino has been married to her husband since 2009.
In March 2020, Marino’s husband got in touch with the East Haven police to report that he believed his wife used $600,000 beginning in 1999.
It was reported that Marino had control over his finances from early on in their relationship. Her husband didn’t notice that there was missing money until 2019.
An investigation was opened, and the authorities reported that Marino established power of attorney by having one of her friends notarize the paperwork.
They also reported that she submitted taxes and forged his signature on “pension checks, Social Security checks, worker’s compensation settlements, and other legal documents.” She allegedly hid the money in an account that no one else knew about.
The authorities reportedly interviewed Marino and based on what she said they alleged that she was able to pull off the theft for so long because she convinced her husband that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They asserted that she exploited his fear of developing it since his mother had it and that his belief he had been diagnosed kept him from finding out about the alleged financial discrepancies.
Marino is also accused of pawning her husband’s valuables without his knowledge or consent.
When she discussed what she allegedly used the money for, Marino reportedly said a large portion of it went to making sure some of her struggling family members had the money for food and, in addition to making sure their bills didn’t fall behind.
Marino turned herself in on Wednesday, and she was incarcerated in lieu of a $25,000 bond. She is expected to face charges for first-degree larceny and third-degree forgery.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.
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