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Woman bilked 91-year-old man out of $400,000, prosecutors say

A Las Vegas woman who prosecutors said bilked a 91-year-old man out of more than $400,000 was indicted Friday on theft and exploitation charges.

Sally Johnson faces nine counts of theft, six counts of forgery, and one count each of exploitation of elderly, grand larceny and attempted theft.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo said that in February 2013 Johnson, who is in her 60s, obtained a power of attorney for Joseph Victory’s account at Bank of America to steal $256,000. DiGiacomo said there was a question about whether Victory, who was hospitalized at the time, actually signed the power of attorney.

Johnson later obtained another power of attorney, “which was clearly not signed by Mr. Victory,” for a Wells Fargo account and stole $150,000, DiGiacomo said.

The two became acquainted after meeting at a Wal-Mart.

She used the money to pay off her home loan and refurnish her house, DiGiacomo said.

The case, initially presented to prosecutors as exploitation of elderly, was dismissed after Victory died in November.

But the Nevada Guardian Services continued trying to recover Victory’s money and “came to the realization that this wasn’t your standard elderly exploitation case,” DiGiacomo said.

At one point, Johnson had the title to Victory’s 2007 Mercury Marquis, worth roughly $9,000, converted to her name, DiGiacomo added.

Chief Judge Jennifer Togliatti ordered a no-bail arrest warrant for Johnson.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.

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