Texas personal assistant imprisoned for stealing from elderly client

HOUSTON – A 41-year-old Richmond resident has been ordered to federal prison after admitting she committed fraud and made false statements regarding her participation in a scheme to defraud her 94-year-old client, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Amy Anglin pleaded guilty Sept. 25.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas handed Anglin a 36-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from the victim, now 95 and blind, that detailed the extent of his losses and how the Anglin preyed on his trust. In handing down the sentence, the court concurred with the government in describing the defendant as a “predator whose version of blood in the water is human kindness and trust.” Judge Atlas further ordered Anglin to pay restitution of at least $249,000.

“Amy Anglin preyed on the trust of a 94-year-old, legally blind man. She should be punished for her actions,” said Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen. “Families should always thoroughly vet people working for our elderly.”

Anglin began working for a successful real estate developer in Houston in approximately 2015 when he 91 years old and his eyesight was beginning to fail. Anglin admitted she took advantage of the victim’s poor health and began to steal money from his bank accounts and misused his credit cards to purchase, among other things, Hawaiian vacations and airline tickets for herself and her family. Anglin would get her elderly victim to sign checks he believed were legitimate and authorized expenditures. She would then have the funds deposited into her personal bank account.

Anglin would also convert the victim’s assets by use of both his bank account and his credit cards. In addition to using her access to the victim’s banking accounts and business credit cards, Anglin wired herself large amounts of money and used Western Union to transfer the victim’s money to her friends and acquaintances. Anglin transferred funds from the victim’s accounts to pay for vacations in Las Vegas, resorts in Hawaii and trips to her hometown. Anglin also used the stolen money to pay for country club memberships, golf lessons, overdue child support payments and major home improvements, including a hot tub.    

At the time of her plea, Anglin admitted she was not authorized to make these transfers or payments. 

Anglin’s scheme was uncovered when the victim’s family began to question certain payments associated with his accounts. With the help of a Houston-based attorney, the family has estimated the total amount of fraud associated with Anglin’s scheme to be more than $249,000.

The scheme continued until approximately December 2018.

Previously released on bond, Anglin was taken into custody following the sentencing today where she will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.  

The case is the result of a renewed law enforcement effort to protect America’s older citizens from elder abuse.

The FBI and Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heyward Carter and Steve Mellin are prosecuting the case.