TUCSON, Ariz. — A Tucson woman has been found guilty of defrauding an elderly couple out of more than $80,000, according to Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
Cynthia Renae Ortiz was found guilty of 21 felony counts of defrauding by a Tucson jury. She was convicted of two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, eleven counts of taking the identity of another, five counts of forgery, and one count each of aggravated taking the identity of another, theft and theft from a vulnerable adult.
Brnovich says in 2014 an elderly woman needed assistance for her husband who was being treated for lung cancer, dementia, and renal failure. Ortiz was hired by the couple within 60 days the husband died from his illnesses.
Ortiz had offered to assist with estate paperwork. During this process the wife had suffered a disabling injury leaving her near death, according to Brnovich.
At this time Ortiz had stole one of the husband's credit cards to make multiple fraudulent purchases, and also stole the identity of the husband to rent a home, and open a credit card account.
She also stole the wife's identity to open another credit card, which she had charged over $42,000 and also used the wife's money ot pay it off.
Ortiz stole death benefit checks payable to the wife, and liquidated stocks belonging to the husband before he died, according to Brnovich.
Ortiz is facing up to 4.5 to 30 years in prison.
She is scheduled to be sentenced March 12 at 10 a.m. at the Pima County Superior Court.
