Bridgeport Woman Accused Of Stealing $200,000 From Dementia Patient

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 60-year-old Bridgeport woman is accused of using the power of attorney status she was granted over an elderly relative with dementia to embezzle more than $200,000 from the victim, according to Bridgeport police.

Leslie Vinson surrendered to police on Friday and was arrested on a charge of first-degree larceny. She was released after posting bond on bail of $100,000, and is scheduled to be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 5.

According to Bridgeport Police Capt. Kevin Gilleran, Vinson was given Power of Attorney over the relative, who suffers from frontotemporal dementia and is severely cognitively impaired.

"The criminal investigation showed that Vinson neglected the victim's basic needs, such as personal hygiene," Gilleran said in a statement. "She did not ensure the relative's living conditions were sanitary. Vinson neglected to pay the victim's bills."

Instead, Gilleran said that Vinson "knowingly and intentionally exploited the victim financially," depleting the victim's life savings by writing and endorsing checks to herself, her family members, and a personal business in an amount greater than $200,000.00.

"This left the victim with approximately five hundred dollars in his account," Gilleran said.

The case was investigated by Assistant State's Attorney Jonathan Lewin and Bridgeport Police Detective Jeremy Kelly, who discovered the alleged crime through a forensic audit of the victim's finances.

After the alleged embezzlement was discovered, the case was transferred to the Chief State's Attorney for criminal prosecution, according to Gilleran.