TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Tagle Santos, 34, and Cherry Mae De Los Reyes-Santos, 28, most recently of Tucson, Arizona, were sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps for defrauding a 73-year-old homebound victim. Santos received 33 months in prison and De Los Reyes-Santos received 16 months in prison. The Court also ordered the married couple to pay restitution to the victim. Santos previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and De Los Reyes-Santos pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
During the time of the scheme, Michael Santos and De Los Reyes-Santos worked as caregivers for the victim, who was disabled. Between 2013 and 2018, Michael Santos and De Los Reyes-Santos made unauthorized transfers of the victim’s funds. Santos admitted that he and his wife fraudulently disguised the transfers to make them appear as wage advances, gifts, and reimbursements for medical and grocery expenses of the victim. De Los Reyes-Santos was aware that these transactions were not legitimate reimbursements. The couple used the fraudulently-obtained proceeds to fund their lifestyle, paying for expensive cars, trips to Las Vegas, high end jewelry, and home remodeling.
The United States Secret Service and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-2707-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-083_Santos
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