A 34-year-old home health worker charged with stealing money from elderly clients appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court last Monday and pled guilty to the charges against her.
April Elizabeth Spatafora, who was charged with financial identity fraud, was put on probation for five years and ordered to pay almost $1,800 in victim restitution. The restitution covers two cases with similar circumstances involving Spatafora.
The court imposed other conditions, including prohibiting her from working for a home health care business or serving as a guardian for anyone unable to handle their affairs
In one of the cases, an 85-year-old victim reported in mid-August last year that he had been the victim of financial identity fraud. He and his daughter completed the report to give to the police together.
It was alleged that Spatafora, who had been the home health worker for the victim from August 17, 2022, until January 19, 2023, had taken money from the man’s bank account and made unauthorized purchases using Amazon and PayPal accounts.
The victim told police he had not set up the PayPal account which was linked to his bank account.
Spatafora did have permission to order household items using the victim’s account. The items were delivered directly to the man’s home.
Beyond these purchases, the victim said he had never authorized Spatafora to order personal items for herself, nor to transfer money to herself from his accounts.
In reviewing the documents from the Amazon and PayPal accounts, evidence showed that women’s clothing, shoes, Mastercard and Amazon gift cards were all ordered from those accounts.
Items ordered were found to have been delivered to Spatafora’s address in Clarkridge or to the former home of her parents located along Highway 201 South.
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