Caretaker Gets 3 Years for Bilking $300,000 from Leisure World Philanthropist

A caretaker who bilked a Leisure World man out of $300,000 will serve three years in prison following a plea agreement this month.

On Tuesday an August restitution hearing was scheduled for 31-year-old Marisa Robles from Norwalk. Robles faced 92 counts related to theft, fraud and elder abuse, but she pleaded guilty to 32 counts this month. Robles had been hired to care for an 81-year-old man, but instead she used her access to his financial affairs to write checks to herself in his name.

“She stole from him, and she stole from what his foundation does,” said Deputy District Attorney Barrie Pink. Robles’ victim has a foundation that gives money to help girls in third-world countries receive an education.

“She started small to see if she could get away with it,” said Pink.

Her first forged check was for $500, but by the third check, she was bold enough to steal $10,000, said Pink.

“I think a lot of people who steal don’t ever think they are going to go to state prison,” Pink said. “I am sure she never had the faintest idea that could happen.”

After her arrest, Robles kept saying, ‘Can’t I just pay it back,’ added Pink.

However, by the time detectives got to Robles, she didn’t have any of the money left.

“That woman did not have a dime to show for it,” said Pink. “Detectives could not find a dime of it.”

At an Aug. 17 restitution hearing Robles will be asked to repay all the money she took.  The plea agreement was warranted, in part, because Robles had no criminal record prior to her arrest, said Pink.

However, Pink did not make it easy on Robles by charging 92 separate criminal counts for every significant check that Robles forged during her three years of employment.

“I wanted her to feel the pain, to be concerned about facing the maximum time (in prison),” said Pink. “I didn’t think she should be able to steal $300,000 and only face four years.”