Former Employee of Assisted Living Center Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY—Yesterday, James Lester Hausam, Jr., 29, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison in connection with a scheme to steal money from a resident at a metro retirement home, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

In 2010, Hausam worked at an assisted-living center in Bethany, Oklahoma. There, he became friends with Monica Michelle Brown, who also worked at the center. Hausam befriended a 96-year-old resident at the center, fraudulently gained access to the resident’s bank account, and stole more than $250,000 belonging to him. Hausam used online banking to write checks to themselves from the resident’s account, forged the resident’s signature on blank checks, and purchased personal items through a PayPal account they set up in the resident’s name.

On September 11, 2012, Hausam was charged in a one-count information with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and to make and possess forged securities. The information alleged that, from January through June 2011, Hausam and Brown conspired to steal tens of thousands of dollars for their personal benefit from a bank account belonging to the assisted-living center resident, without his permission. On September 25, 2012, Hausam pled guilty to the conspiracy count. Hausam admitted that he asked the victim in 2010 for money to help with bills; the resident gave Hausam a $1,000 check and a few blank checks. Hausam later started accessing the resident’s bank account online and writing checks from that account. Hausam admitted he also forged the resident’s name on a blank check that the resident had given him. At the plea hearing, Hausam admitted that he used the funds for his personal benefit, but never told the 96-year-old resident that he and Brown were writing checks for thousands of dollars from the account.

At yesterday’s sentencing, United States District Judge Robin J. Cauthron sentenced Hausam to serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Hausam was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $249,653.38. Hausam was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin service of his sentence.

The alleged conspirator, Monica Michelle Brown (a/k/a Monica Agee), 40, from Oklahoma City, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 7, 2012, and charged with conspiracy to defraud, mail fraud, and forgery of checks. If convicted, Brown faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The public is reminded that the indictment is merely an accusation and that Brown is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Brown has not been arrested and remains a fugitive. Anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 405-290-7770.

These cases are the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bethany Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris M. Stephens.