Charges: Man Stole Hundreds Of Thousands From Ill Grandma
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A White Bear Lake man was charged Tuesday with stealing thousands of dollars from his grandmother after relatives contacted police with suspicions of fraud.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce says Dennis Lee Olson, 42, is charged with theft by swindle from Betty Jane Braun between 2008 and 2013, when she passed away.
The criminal complaint says Olson moved Braun from Nevada to a Minnesota assisted living and memory care facility in 2008. He also administered her finances and her estate beginning at this time.
Investigators found Olson opened two joint bank accounts with Braun that had a combined total of $389,000. He had Braun -- who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease -- sign a power of attorney in 2011.
Braun had assets of more than $600,000 in 2008, but her accounts had only about $15,000 total in them by the time of her death five years later.
Olson could only be charged with stealing about $79,000 due to the statute of limitations.
Email the Minnesota Department of Commerce if you suspect fraud or scams.