Central City woman gets 5 years for stealing over $400,000 from elderly relatives

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Central City woman who stole more than $400,000 from two elderly relatives was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison.

Carrie April Martin, 44, pleaded guilty in September to one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to evidence at plea and sentencing hearings, Martin took advantage of two elderly relatives in the Cedar Rapids area identified in court documents as “L.W.” and “I.O.”

L.W. was a widow who was indigent, lived in a nursing home and had dementia. She died in December 2014 at age 89.

I.O., also a widow, was deaf and blind. She had significant assets and lived in an assisted living facility. She died in October 2017 at age 96.

Between April 2014 and July 2017, Martin stole checks drawn on accounts at a credit union from both relatives. Another one of Martin’s relatives was the power of attorney for the two women and had full legal authority to act for them.

From time to time, Martin stole the power of attorney’s identity and wrote checks to herself from the women’s accounts at the credit union, according to court documents. Martin also used her friendship with an office administrator at the local branch of a national investment firm to gain access to the account of I.O.

Martin sold over $100,000 in stock that I.O. had in an energy company, which I.O. intended to bequeath to a church in Elkader.

I.O. went into hospice care less than a week after learning of Martin’s theft, which left I.O. with minimal assets, according to court documents. When I.O. learned Martin lacked funds to repay, she asked that Martin be charged and held accountable for her scheme. I.O. died within a month’s time.

In total, Martin stole over $416,000 from both relatives.

Evidence at Martin’s sentencing also established that Martin made false statements to a fraud specialist at her credit union and to law enforcement to conceal her crimes. In May 2022, Martin told two witnesses who might testify for a grand jury in this case to “just watch what you say,” and “if they don’t specifically ask, don’t give information,” according to a sentencing document.

U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams, at sentencing, ordered Martin to pay $416,911 in restitution to both victims’ heirs, including the relative with power of attorney and the church. She must also serve five years of supervised release following her prison term.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Timothy Vavricek and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com