SANTA ANA, Calif.  – A man was convicted and sentenced to three years in state prison today for abusing a 73-year-old elderly woman, committing multiple forgeries, and stealing over $75,000 from the victim.

Circumstances of the Case

• From March 10, 2016, to March 18, 2016, the defendant was in a position of trust as caretaker for his wife's distant cousin, 73-year-old Carol Folz.
• While Folz was in his custody and care, Carter allowed the victim to be injured or endangered under circumstances likely to produce great bodily injury or death.
• Sometime in March 2016, the victim passed away.
• The defendant contacted a private body removal service to transport the deceased victim from her home in Laguna Niguel to San Bernardino.
• Carter forged a notary's signature on the cremation authorization, and the victim's body was cremated without notifying law enforcement, paramedics, or the coroner's office.
• After Folz passed away, the defendant took out a reverse mortgage on the victim's home, attempted to sell the property worth $859,500, and impersonated a real estate broker, an attorney, a doctor, and the victim's brother by forging various signatures and documents.
• Carter also used the victim's finances to deposit several cashier's checks into his personal account, laundering the stolen money at JP Morgan Chase bank.
• On Aug. 8, 2016, the victim's relative learned about the sale of Folz' home and contacted law enforcement.
• On March 16, 2017, the Orange County District Attorney's Office, who investigated this case, arrested the defendant.

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney George McFetridge, Major Fraud Unit

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 17CF0675 / November 22, 2017