Cleveland, Ohio – A 46-year-old Cleveland woman, Tanya Alahmad, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $46,064.30 in restitution after pleading guilty to charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. Judge David A. Ruiz handed down the sentence, holding Alahmad accountable for her fraudulent actions that led to significant financial loss for an elderly victim.
Forging Trust and Exploiting Vulnerability
According to court documents, Alahmad’s criminal activity began in November 2019 and continued through February 2022. During this time, she befriended the elderly victim and frequently stayed at their residence, offering help by cleaning the house and running errands. However, her motives were far from altruistic. Alahmad forged a Power of Attorney (POA) document, fraudulently naming herself as the victim’s POA by forging the victim’s signature. This unauthorized document allowed her to obtain credit and debit cards in the victim’s name.
Alahmad used these fraudulently acquired financial tools to make unauthorized purchases and withdrawals, often while the victim was hospitalized or in a rehabilitation facility. During these times, she continued to exploit her position of trust by writing checks from the victim’s bank account without legal authorization. Altogether, her actions resulted in losses exceeding $46,000 to both the victim and the bank.
Investigation and Legal Action
The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation into Alahmad’s fraudulent activities, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio also expressed gratitude to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cleveland Police Department for their cooperation in the case.
This case is part of the broader Elder Justice Initiative, which was established under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The initiative aims to combat elder abuse, financial fraud, neglect, and scams that target older adults. It supports the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to protect the nation’s elderly population from exploitation.
Reporting Elder Fraud
The sentencing of Tanya Alahmad serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance against elder fraud. Authorities encourage anyone who suspects fraudulent conduct involving older adults to report it immediately. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is available at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), and reports can also be made through the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to protect vulnerable populations from those who seek to exploit them. The sentencing of Alahmad reflects the commitment of federal and local agencies to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure justice for victims of elder abuse and financial fraud.
