Romanian doctor indicted in theft plot
A grand jury Friday indicted a Romanian doctor in a $70,000 theft scheme against the ex-wife of Las Vegas royalty.
But defense attorney Dayvid Figler said the criminal accusations made by Phyllis Wynn against her former lover, Ovidiu Balteanu, were simply the result of a soured romance.
Balteanu was indicted on eight felony counts, including five counts of theft.
A summons was issued for Balteanu to appear before Judge Elissa Cadish on April 29. He must surrender his U.S. and Romanian passports at that time.
In December, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure dismissed five counts of obtaining money under false pretenses against Balteanu after a four-hour hearing in which Wynn testified she loaned about $57,000 to Balteanu for medical accreditation prep courses.
Bonaventure said he could not determine whether Wynn was defrauded based on the evidence, which included that there was no agreed-upon time by which Balteanu had to repay her.
After their breakup, Wynn went to authorities saying that she was duped into the loan and that she believed Balteanu never used the money toward his medical accreditation, she testified.
Balteanu was able to show he spent $4,000 on medical books. He also spent an undetermined amount of money on prep courses for medical exams that may have totaled up to $20,000.
Wynn is at least 15 years removed from a marriage to the brother of casino mogul Steve Wynn.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
