Woman Who Defrauded Disabled/Elderly Victim Sentenced to Six Years in Jail

TAMPA, FL—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that United States District Judge Richard A. Lazzara sentenced Rebecca Moody (61, of West Virginia and formerly of New Port Richey) today to six years in federal prison. Moody was convicted on September 22, 2011, on one count of wire fraud and one count of transportation of stolen property after a 12-day trial. Moody was also ordered to pay $593,053 in restitution to her victims, and a $244,000 money judgment was entered as forfeiture of amounts traceable to the proceeds of the offense.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Moody engaged in a scheme to defraud an 80-year-old disabled woman, who is deaf and virtually blind, by using a fraudulently obtained power of attorney to procure a $244,000 fraudulent mortgage loan from Wells Fargo Bank on the victim’s unencumbered residence without the victim’s knowledge. Moody also engaged in theft of other funds, approximately $350,000, from other accounts belonging to the victim in order to acquire funds for Moody’s personal use, and for use by her family, all in contradiction of her fiduciary capacity to conduct the financial affairs in the best interest of the disabled and elderly victim.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelley C. Howard-Allen.