Release Date: April 15, 2008

Contact:   Theresa Pollara , Senior Deputy District Attorney

(805) 654-2505

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Toni Radys (DOB: 6/10/52) of Moorpark, has pled guilty to insurance fraud, grand theft, mental abuse and financial elder abuse with a special allegation of a loss over $150,000. Radys committed the crimes against her mother.

Fraudulent acts committed by Radys include using false pretenses to add her name to the legal title of her mother's home. Radys used a power of attorney granted to her by her mother to procure a mortgage on a second property, then removed her mother from that property's legal ownership. In addition to stealing money from her mother's bank accounts, Radys applied for a credit card and a life insurance policy in her mother's name, without her mother's consent. She caused debt to accumulate on the credit card and named herself as the sole beneficiary of the life insurance policy. Radys verbally abused her mother and threatened to evict her from her own home.

Radys was sentenced to 123 days in Ventura County jail, financial restitution and domestic violence classes. Her sentencing also includes returning legal real estate ownership to her mother. Should Radys fail to meet her probation terms, she could be sentenced to prison for up to ten years and eight months.

Elder or dependent adult abuse is a prevalent and often silent crime. Victims are often unable or ashamed to come forward. The District Attorney urges you to report financial, physical or mental abuse to the local authorities or to the Adult Protective Services. The District Attorney's Office maintains a separate unit of investigators, advocates and an attorney to address these types of crimes.