WASHINGTON – A Silver Spring, Maryland couple swindled the man they were supposed to be caring for out of $1.2 million and left the 99-year-old a “prisoner” in his own home, according to Montgomery County prosecutors.
A jury found Ana Beti Molina and Javier Molina guilty Monday of multiple charges including financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and theft scheme, stemming from their theft of Gustave Shapiro’s savings. They face up to 55 years in prison when they are sentenced in January.
The trial lasted three weeks and jury deliberations lasted just under seven hours, according to Ramon Korionoff with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.
When Shapiro’s wife of over 50 years died in 2013, Ana Molina, 51, began managing his finances. Prosecutors said that Molina presented herself as a friend and later became his confidant. As Shapiro’s dementia progressed, Molina and her husband, 58, began taking advantage of him, eventually obtaining power of attorney. They convinced Shapiro to cut his son out of his will and name the Molinas instead as recipients of his estate, Korionoff said.
Korionoff said that investigators became aware of a potential crime when the Molinas began withdrawing large sums of money from several of Shapiro’s accounts.
“This despicable, deplorable act to defraud an elderly man took on a life of its own over four years to the tune of $1.2 million,” Korionoff said.
Ana and Javier Molina began spending large amounts of Shapiro’s money, amassed through his frugal lifestyle. The Molinas purchased a house, a new SUV, and sent their daughter to a New York City art school. Javier Molina frequented local casinos, where he accumulated about $200,000 in losses.
As his health declined, Shapiro struggled to get around without the use of a wheelchair or assistance. But the house that the Molinas claim was purchased to assist in taking care of him was not wheelchair accessible. Instead, Shapiro was left in a second story room so his mobility was restricted. Shapiro told investigators he felt like a prisoner in his own home.
“This was a really important part of the case,” Korionoff said. “The victim in this matter, Gustave Shapiro, was degrading because of his dementia. The house that they had purchased for, allegedly, the benefit of Mr. Shapiro did not have a stair lift or ramps or access for handicap people.”
Shapiro died in September 2016, but the investigation was already well under way into the Molinas use of his finances. The couple were charged and indicted earlier this year.
