WINTER PARK, Fla. – Detectives allege that a Winter Park attorney stole millions of dollars from a 108-year-old woman, sending him to prison. Helen Kuhn, the victim, passed away earlier this month, but according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, she detected the fraud in 2019.
Wandys Vazquez Suares, who lived across the street from Kuhn, described her as “excellent, beautiful, and powerful.”
Investigators say Kuhn taught school for 35 years in Orlando, flew planes until the age of 93, and drove a car until the age of 101. According to detectives, she noticed a problem with her finances several years ago. They claim that her former attorney, Matthew Roby, fraudulently obtained power of attorney over Kuhn and then drained her accounts of more than two million dollars.
Roby has been disbarred and sentenced to five years in prison.
Perhaps he must experience life, Vazquez Suares suggested. “It is not acceptable to steal from others. That is improper.”
Unfortunately, this is not the first time an attorney has been exploited, according to Karen Murillo, advocacy manager for AARP Florida. “I will tell you that exploitation occurs due to proximity to a vulnerable or elderly adult.”
According to the AARP, this type of exploitation is on the rise.
Murillo stated, “Sadly, exploitation is on the rise.” “The average annual loss for victims of exploitation is approximately $120,000, indicating a national increase. One in ten Americans is the victim of some form of elder abuse, according to our observations.”
Detectives claim they have recovered $2.4 million of the stolen funds.
