Kennesaw Man Guilty of Stealing Thousands From Elderly Victim

MARIETTA, GA -- A Kennesaw man has pled guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an elderly man.

On Thursday, Wesley Ryan Gayton, 35, pled guilty to elder exploitation and theft, admitting that he took more than half a million dollars from the victim between 2010 and 2015 under the guise that Gayton’s father was ill and needed money for surgeries and medicine.

Gayton even convinced the victim to pawn vehicle titles and firearms in order to get more money for Gayton.

“Stealing is bad, but stealing from elderly people is especially depraved. As the defendant will be reminded for 25 years, the Cobb County District Attorney is wholeheartedly committed to the protection of our elder population and to apprehension and punishment of those malignant souls who victimize them,” said Deputy Chief ADA John Melvin, who prosecuted the case.

After accepting the plea, visiting Tallapoosa Circuit Senior Judge Richard Sutton sentenced Gayton to 25 years, with two years to serve in custody and the rest on probation. Gayton was also ordered to pay $591,578.32 in restitution to his victim.