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A Chicago woman has been charged for bilking a 93 year old disabled widow of a World War II Veteran out of her home and leaving her at a nursing home without any of her belongings, forcing staff to provide her with second hand clothes from former residents, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Ausra Rollins, 47, of Chicago has been charged with one felony count of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly.  Rollins was working for the victim as her caretaker when she tricked her into signing over the deed to her River Forest condominium.

According to prosecutors, the elderly victim, who has vision and hearing impairments, trusted Rollins and relied on her assistance due to the fact she was widowed and had no children.

In April of 2011, Rollins obtained power of attorney over the victim. Shortly after, she convinced the victim to sell her condominium to her. The defendant proposed that she would pay the victim $5,000 a month until $110,000 was paid. When the victim agreed, Rollins had her sign numerous documents that she claimed were associated with the agreement.

In early 2012, Rollins left the victim at a nursing home in Westchester without any of her personal possessions.

An investigation found property records that showed that one of the documents the victim had signed was a quit claim deed that transferred the condo’s ownership to Rollins. The defendant fraudulently obtained this quit claim deed.  At the time the deed was filed, the defendant had not paid the victim as agreed and in fact had only made one payment of $5,000.  The victim in this case is vision and hearing impaired and was unaware that the document she signed was a quit claim deed.  Rollins also continued to live in the victim’s home after leaving her at the nursing home even though she no longer needed to care for her.

The defendant appeared in bond court today in Maywood where Judge Ramon Ocasio III set the bail at a $5,000.00 cash bond. Special conditions of bond were also granted in this case.  The defendant’s next court date is July 26, 2012 for a status hearing.  Rollins is facing up to 15 years in prison if she is convicted.

The public is reminded that charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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