Caregivers Convicted of Exploiting 74-Year-Old Vulnerable Adult

PHOENIX - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Reynard Gordon and Theresa Alice Titus were convicted of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, Theft from a Vulnerable Adult, and two counts of Forgery after a jury trial in Cochise County. 

The 74-year-old victim, deemed vulnerable to exploitation by a psychologist, had deposited two $60,000 checks into her account at Cochise Credit Union and then attempted to immediately withdraw $30,000 at Titus’ urging. Titus also tried to deposit $15,000 and $9,900 checks against the victim’s account into her account. Gordon also had presented the credit union with an “Affidavit of Donation” that would have given him financial and medical power of attorney over the victim as well as attesting that the victim wanted to give the entire $120,000 to Gordon.  

When the victim did not appear to understand the document, the credit union refused to notarize the power of attorney and instead contacted Adult Protective Services. When police executed a search warrant on the victim’s home, which had no running water, officers found $14,800 in cash hidden in a derelict truck where Gordon appeared to live. Over $10,000 of the victim’s money still is missing. 

Sentencing is set for December 18th in Bisbee.

Assistant Attorney General Doug Clark prosecuted this matter.

If a vulnerable adult is being physically harmed in any way, contact 9-1-1 in an emergency. For non-emergency abuse or neglect, contact Adult Protective Services at (877) SOS-ADULT. If you believe a vulnerable adult is being financially exploited, contact Adult Protective Services or call the Attorney General's Task Force Against Senior Abuse at (602) 542-2124.