AG: 2 convicted of defrauding 74-year-old out of thousands

Two people were convicted in Cochise County Wednesday of defrauding a 74-year-old woman, according to a news release from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General Mark Brnovich said Theresa Alice Titus and Reynard Gordon were found guilty of fraudulent schemes and artifices, theft and two counts of forgery involving a victim deemed vulnerable by a psychologist.

The victim had deposited two $60,000 checks into her account at Cochise Credit Union but then immediately tried to withdraw $30,000 at Titus’ request, Brnovich said.

Titus also attempted to deposit $15,000 and $9,000 of the victim’s money into her own account, the news release noted.

In addition, Gordon attempted to gain financial and medical power of attorney over the victim by presenting the credit union with an “Affidavit of Donation” that needed to be notarized.

The Attorney General’s Office said the affidavit sought to verify the victim wanted to give Gordon $120,000.

However, when the victim did not understand the document, the credit union did not notarize the document and contacted Arizona Adult Protective Services, according to the release.

Police searched the victim’s home and found nearly $15,000 in cash hidden in a truck where Gordon appeared to be living at the time.

More than $10,000 of the victim’s money is still missing, officials said.

Sentencing for Titus and Gordon is set for Dec. 18 in Bisbee.

Officials said there are resources available in cases where a vulnerable adult is being exploited.

If a vulnerable adult is being physically harmed, call 911 in an emergency. For non-emergency abuse or neglect, contact Adult Protective Services at (877) SOSADULT.

If a vulnerable adult is being financially exploited, contact Adult Protective Services or call the Attorney General’s Task Force Against Senior Abuse at (602) 542-2124.