Woman Accused of Emptying $200K from Peninsula Parents' Retirement Account, Charged

REDWOOD CITY, CA – A woman accused of wiping out her parents' retirement account over the course of three years pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in San Mateo County Superior Court.

Jeanine Jantoc, 45, allegedly took about $200,000 from her parents while she was living with them in South San Francisco between 2013 and 2016, according to the district attorney's office.

In 2010, her mother had a stroke and required extra care. Jantoc's father then asked her to inquire about tax penalties for early withdrawals from their retirement account but never authorized her to take out any funds, prosecutors said.

During that time, Jantoc began funneling money through their bank account and opening up a series of credit cards in their names with multiple banks, ultimately emptying the account, according to the district attorney's office.

When Jantoc's family confronted her about the theft, she packed up her belongings and left the home, leaving a note apologizing and saying that she was addicted to gambling, prosecutors said.

Jantoc was arrested on suspicion of theft from an elder and unauthorized use of someone else's ID, according to jail records.

She remains in custody at the Maple Street Correctional Center with bail set at $450,000 and is set to appear in court next on Feb. 2, prosecutors said.

– By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock