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A Massachusetts woman is facing years behind bars after admitting to stealing thousands of dollars from nearly a dozen elderly victims.
The state’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) says 33-year-old Regina Henaku has pleaded guilty to stealing money from the elderly under her care.
Prosecutors say Henaku posed as a professional caregiver by stealing the identities and credentials of two people she knows to gain employment at five different health care agencies, long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities.
Working for a few weeks at each facility, Henaku stole the credit or debit cards of her victims and used or attempted to use them without authorization. In total, she stole 16 bank cards owned by senior residents and used 11 to drain about $28,000.
On October 14th, Henaku admitted to engaging in larceny over $250 from an elder or disabled person, credit card fraud, attempted larceny, identity fraud and witness intimidation.
She’s been sentenced to two years in a House of Correction, with one year to serve and the balance suspended for two years. On top of the prison sentence, Henaku is barred from working in healthcare or social work, as well as any type of job that involves the elderly or the disabled.
The AGO adds that banks and credit card companies refunded almost all of Henaku’s fraudulent purchases. She’s also being ordered to pay the remaining restitution to her victims.
