California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced felony charges against a caretaker accused of embezzling over $400,000 from a citizen of the Pechanga Band of Indians. The victim, a dependent adult, received these funds monthly from the Pechanga Tribe. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated the case following a referral from the FBI, which alleged that the caretaker used the money for personal expenses.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized the responsibility caretakers have to treat those in their care with compassion and dignity. "They support individuals during some of the most challenging moments in their lives," he stated. "At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to fighting against all types of abuse, theft, and neglect."
The allegations cover a period between October 2018 and January 2021, during which time it is claimed that the caretaker used the victim's funds for vacations, luxurious dinners, mortgage payments, and other personal expenses. Criminal charges filed in Orange County Superior Court include embezzlement, theft from a dependent adult, and grand theft exceeding $100,000.
The DOJ stresses that criminal charges must be proven in court and that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The DOJ’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) plays a role in protecting Californians by investigating abuse, neglect, and fraud against elderly and dependent adults as well as fraud on the Medi-Cal program. The division receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant totaling $69,244,976 for Federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25% is funded by the State of California.