KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, and Chris Koster, Missouri Attorney General, announced that a Bethany, Mo., attorney pleaded guilty today in federal court for stealing more than $540,000 from his elderly client.
Richard F. Turner, 39, of Bethany, pleaded guilty to U.S. District Judge David G. Kays to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements on his tax return. He also pleaded guilty to the information’s asset forfeiture count.
“This is an egregious case of elder abuse,” Dickinson said. “The abuser, Mr. Turner, was the elderly victim’s own attorney. When those in positions of responsibility and trust abuse the elderly, we will bring the full resources of federal and state law enforcement to bring them to justice.”
“Richard Turner violated the trust placed in him, using his elderly client’s trust account as a personal ATM,” Koster said. “Today’s guilty plea acknowledges the seriousness of this breach of trust.”
Through his plea, Turner admitted that from October 12, 2004 to May 29, 2014, he fraudulently attempted to obtain at least $728,147.18, and he did obtain at least $540,803.86, from his elderly client. He spent the money on personal expenses not authorized by his client, the client’s trust agreements, or his power of attorney, including paying off his home mortgage, putting in a swimming pool, and spending heavily at retail establishments and restaurants in Bethany, St. Joseph, and Kansas City, Mo., including to support his clothing store, Richard’s / TD Clothiers, in Bethany, Mo. Turner further admitted that he failed to pay taxes on the embezzled income, causing additional loss to the state and federal government of at least approximately $154,453.
Defendant Richard Turner is a lawyer in Bethany, Mo. He is the former elected county prosecutor of Harrison County, Mo., and he was re-elected on November 4, 2014.
On October 12, 2004, a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) was created for an elderly client naming Richard F. Turner as her attorney-in-fact. The DPOA specified that it, “shall become effective ONLY upon (Mrs. Bush’s) subsequent incapacity . . . .” The DPOA granted Turner the ability to conduct financial transactions and pay taxes on behalf of Mrs. Bush, and to conduct business in which she is an interested party. On May 10, 2010, Mrs. Bush became a resident at the Crestview Home, a skilled nursing facility, located in Bethany, Mo. Records reflect that she was suffering short-term memory impairment at the time of her admission.
Embezzlement Scheme
Through his plea, Turner admitted that from 2005 to 2011, his income diminished but his spending increased. On January 19, 2011, Turner received a foreclosure notice for his Bank of America mortgage concerning his personal residence at 21223 Daily Road, Bethany, Mo. On January 31, 2011, Turner filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in the Western District of Missouri.
On March 3, 2011, Turner caused to be created the Dorothy A. Bush Revocable Trust, naming Mrs. Bush as the “Settler,” and himself as the “Trustee.” At the time, according to the plea agreement, Mrs. Bush was suffering from memory problems. The trust appears to have been signed by Mrs. Bush; however, Turner notarized the signature himself. No other witnesses were listed. The Trust authorized the Trustee to make payments from the Trust assets for the “care, maintenance and comfort,” of Mrs. Bush. It allowed the trustee to sell assets, invest funds, sell property, pay debts, and to act “generally in the management of the trust estate to do all acts and things which he/she deems for the best interests of the trust.” Turner was not himself a beneficiary under the terms of the trust, nor was he authorized under the trust to make personal expenditures. Upon Mrs. Bush’s death, the Trust provided for the distribution of her remaining assets to various persons and charities.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI, with assistance from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.
Turner is scheduled to be sentenced on [Date].
Defendant Information:
Defendant: Richard F. Turner
Age: 39
City, State: Bethany, MO
Charges:
Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
False Statements on Tax Return (26 U.S.C. § 7206(1))
Asset Forfeiture (18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C))
Date of Offense: October 12, 2004 to May 29, 2014
Sentence: Pending
Amount of Money Involved: $728,147.18
Amount of Money Obtained: $540,803.86
Loss to State and Federal Government: $154,453
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption