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"TRAGIC BREACH OF FAMILY TRUST": MAN SENTENCED FOR STEALING FROM BLIND & AGING MOTHER
A Holladay man was sentenced today to one year in jail for stealing more than $237,000 from his aging and blind mother who had trusted him to help manage her finances. Grant Keith Aagard, 51, pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult and three third-degree felony counts of theft by deception. Aagard was also ordered to pay full restitution.
"It is one of the most reprehensible acts of greed and abuse of trust imaginable," says Robert Steed, the Assistant Attorney General who prosecuted the case. "It is a tragic breach of family trust to satisfy your own greed by exploiting a vulnerable relative."
In 1997, Aagard began forging letters to an insurance company to gain access to over $80,000 in his mother's annuity retirement account. Aagard began handling his mother's financial affairs in 2002 and started using her checking account for his personal use.
When the victim started getting medical bills in 2004, Aagard convinced his mother to obtain a reverse mortgage on her home. Aagard paid the medical bills but spent the majority of the reverse mortgage money on himself. Aagard also kept his mother's tax returns and even pawned some of his mother's jewelry.
"In our society, we witness those who rob, steal and defraud others for personal gain, but this case evokes even greater feelings of outrage and disdain," says Attorney General Mark Shurleff. "To steal from one's own mother, who is blind and totally trusting and vulnerable is beyond belief."
Aagard, was investigated by the Utah Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), a specialized unit within the Attorney Generals Office. Investigators and prosecutors recently handled several cases involving family members who have defrauded their parents or grandparents by taking advantage of their position of trust. For example, Judy Gibson, was sentenced in April to 30 days in jail for spending more than $238,000 from accounts belonging to her aged aunt.
In such cases, the Attorney General's Office seeks to punish the offenders through aggressive prosecution while also trying to recoup as much restitution as possible to take care of the victims. "These elderly victims have saved over their lifetimes so that they have the money necessary to care for themselves," says Steed. "We will do everything we can to stop these horrible crimes."
MFCU handles allegations of fraud against the Medicaid system as well as protecting patients who reside in board and care facilities from abuse, neglect and exploitation. More information about MFCU is available at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/145.html.
Court Documents:
Grant Aagard Second Amended Information.pdf
Grant Aagard Statement of Defendant in Support of Guilty Plea and Certificate of Counsel.pdf
Judy Gibson Statement of Defendant in Support of Plea in Abeyance and Certificate of Counsel.pdf
Judy Gibson Restitution Order.pdf
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