TUCSON, AZ – A husband and wife team posing as caregivers have been sentenced to federal prison for systematically looting the finances of a 73-year-old disabled Tucson resident. Michael Tagle Santos, 34, and Cherry Mae De Los Reyes-Santos, 28, were sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps following a probe by the U.S. Secret Service and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Michael Santos received a 33-month prison term after pleading guilty to wire fraud. His wife, Cherry Mae De Los Reyes-Santos, was handed a 16-month sentence for misprision of a felony – knowingly concealing the crime. Judge Zipps also ordered the couple to pay full restitution to the victim, the amount of which has not been disclosed.
Between 2013 and 2018, Santos and De Los Reyes-Santos, employed as caregivers for the homebound victim, allegedly began making unauthorized transfers from the victim’s accounts. Santos admitted to disguising these transfers, falsely labeling them as wage advances, gifts, and reimbursements for medical expenses and groceries. De Los Reyes-Santos was fully aware that these transactions were fraudulent.
The ill-gotten gains weren’t used for the victim’s care, however. Instead, the couple splurged on a lifestyle far beyond their legitimate income, investigators say. Funds were spent on expensive vehicles, trips to Las Vegas, high-end jewelry, and extensive remodeling of their own home. The couple treated the victim’s life savings as a personal slush fund, enriching themselves at the expense of a vulnerable individual.
Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, successfully argued for the prison sentences, highlighting the brazen nature of the scheme and the devastating impact on the victim. The Secret Service, typically known for protecting national leaders, has a long history of investigating financial crimes, including elder fraud, which is a growing concern nationwide.
The case, numbered CR-20-2707-TUC-JGZ, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by vulnerable adults and the importance of diligent oversight of caregivers. Release number 2021-083_Santos, issued by the U.S. Secret Service, confirms the sentencing and details the agency’s involvement in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The investigation remains open to determine if other fraudulent activity occurred.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Boyce, Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion, DE 2023 · New Mexico
- Eduardo Rodriguez-Ayala, Passport Fraud, Waterloo IA, 2013 · Connecticut
- Elaine Monique Zavala-Charres, $260K IRS Mail Fraud, NY, 2023 · New Jersey
- Adrianne Marta Frazer, Tax Refund Fraud, Phoenix AZ, 2023 · Oregon
- David Young, Procurement Fraud Scheme, Hernando Beach FL, 2023 · Arizona
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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