Tucson Woman Sentenced to 9.25 Years for Defrauding Elderly Couple Out Of $80,000

TUCSON - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Cynthia Renae Ortiz was sentenced to 9.25 years in prison by a Pima County Superior Court Judge on 21 counts for her scheme that defrauded an Arizona couple out of over $80,000. In February, a jury found Ortiz guilty of 2 counts of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, 11 counts of Taking the Identity of Another, five counts of Forgery, and one count each of Aggravated Taking the Identity of Another, Theft, and Theft from a Vulnerable Adult.

In 2014, an elderly Tucson woman needed respite care for her husband who was being treated for lung cancer, dementia, and renal failure. The couple hired Ortiz, who promoted herself as a caregiver. Within 60 days, the husband sadly passed away from his illnesses, and Ortiz offered to “assist” with estate paperwork.

In an unfortunate turn of events, the wife suffered a disabling injury that left her near death. During this time, Ortiz not only stole one of the husband's credit cards to make multiple fraudulent purchases, but she also stole the husband's identity to rent a home and open a different credit card. Ortiz also stole the wife's identity to open yet another credit card, where she charged over $42,000, and then used the wife's money to pay it off. Beyond the credit cards, Ortiz stole death benefit checks payable to the wife and liquidated stocks that had belonged to the husband before he died.

Ortiz was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 9.25 years on one count of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, 6.5 years for Theft from a Vulnerable Adult, 6.5 years for Aggravated Identity Theft, 4.5 years for each count of Taking the Identity of Another, 4.5 years for each count of Forgery, and 3.5 years for Theft. Ortiz was also sentenced to a consecutive term of 7.0 years of probation on the remaining Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices count, which will begin upon her release from custody.

Assistant Attorney General Doug Clark prosecuted this case. It was investigated by Detective Jessica Badine of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Below is the booking photograph of Ortiz.