FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2018
Contact: David Carl (505) 288-2465
Albuquerque, NM – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas secured a guilty plea from a nursing home office manager at rehabilitation center, who stole thousands of dollars from elderly patients who suffered from dementia. Leanne Bennett worked at the Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque, and between 2012 and 2013, she used her position as office manager to steal more than $30,000 from elderly residents.
“It is my office’s highest responsibility to protect vulnerable populations within New Mexico,” said Attorney General Hector Balderas. “This defendant took advantage of an innocent New Mexican battling dementia and a system we rely on to care for the elderly and disabled. I’m pleased that she will be held accountable for her crimes, and the people she exploited will receive restitution.”
Bennett gained access to residents’ checking accounts, ATM accounts and debit cards, and wrote checks to herself and made cash withdrawals from victims’ accounts from ATM’s across Albuquerque.
Bennett could face up to 3 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections, and will be required to pay more than $44,000 in restitution to the victims. Sentencing is set for October 18th
