For Years, My Brother Was The Untouchable Golden Child. But After…

Dad crossed his arms at the front door. The doorbell rang again.

A woman said she was Detective Moore gathering financial exploitation statements. Yet Dad yelled through the door that she needed a warrant since this was private land.

Detective Moore kindly advised she take statements at the police station and that making things difficult wouldn’t help his son. She investigated vulnerable adult exploitation and unusual transactions from an old woman’s account.

After a minute, Dad opened the door but blocked it to be available for Jason’s chats. He invited her in.

Detective Moore entered when asked. She had short brown hair, a belt badge, and simple attire. She was about 40.

She noticed crying people in a family separated as she looked around, introduced herself, and sought a document review location. Dad recommended she use the dining room table but stayed.

Detective Moore agreed and entered the dining room. She grabbed her phone and notebook.

She had Nenah explain banking paperwork first. Nenah sorted bank statements across from her.

She described the January transfer schedule. Jason received $45,000 from Grandma on January 10th. The $45,000 got to Bet King Casino three hours later.

Another $25,000, January 25th. $35,000, February 3rd. $20,000, February 18th.

She listed all transaction dates and amounts. Detective Moore took photos of each document on her phone.

Nenah was asked about Grandma’s transfers and medical visits. Ella made a calendar showing Jason sending money on Grandma’s doctor and medicine’s days.

Also, Detective Moore photographed the calendar. She asked about Grandma’s living circumstances.

Ella said Grandma complained about being cold because Jason believed heating costs were too expensive. She ate generic food since Jason believed organic was too pricey.

Since Jason considered new clothes too pricey, she wore the same ones for months. We send thousands to gaming sites regularly.

Detective Moore asked Jason to explain several transfers from his grandmother’s account to his and then to gambling sites. Jason rose up and dried his eyes, saying Grandma understood his financial strategy and agreed.

He stated she recognized he was increasing her savings for her family after she died. Jason said he and Grandma made these trades verbally in private.

When Detective Moore asked whether he had written documentation, he claimed her trust completely and didn’t need anything documented due of their closeness. Dad nodded as if understanding.

Mom held Jason’s shoulder. I couldn’t remain quiet and said Grandma’s neurology studies revealed early dementia in her final six months.

Detective Moore requested copies of those medical records, and I said the doctor could provide them. Uncle David said Jason requested power of attorney to protect Grandma from financial mistakes.

He said Jason told the family Grandma was forgetful and needed help with payments and banking. Jason flushed and said it wasn’t fair that Grandma wanted power of attorney since she was worried.

Detective Moore took notes and asked Jason if he transferred $150,000 from his grandmother’s accounts to online gambling sites between January and June. Jason noticed my dad take out his phone.

Jason said he didn’t feel comfortable answering questions without a counsel. My parents phoned their real estate closing lawyer friend to come over fast because Jason was interrogated without a lawyer.

Detective Moore calmly indicated that Jason had the right to see a lawyer and that she supported his decision. Despite Jason’s claims, she said the banking records and transaction history reveal financial abuse.

Dad kept phoning the lawyer as Mom pleaded with Jason not to talk until they had representation. Detective Moore said she had enough notes and images to investigate.

She gave me her card and advised me to contact her if I find Grandma’s medical records or any relevant information. Uncle David brought her to the door and commended her promptness.

A History of Deception

After she left, my parents shouted at me and Uncle David for bringing police in a family quarrel and making Jason look guilty. Uncle David called and met with relatives who needed Grandma’s money answers the following week.

He asked each family member what Jason had told them about Grandma’s medical care and expenditures. Jason told family members different stories about where the money went, and none of the figures matched.

He told one family Grandma needed a $2,000 a month drug. He told another uncle Grandma’s house needed a roof and foundation.

He told a relative Grandma wanted to prepay her burial and buy a premium plot. Every story was different, and Jason’s reported expenditures exceeded the $150,000 that disappeared.

Aunt Rebecca documented Grandma’s final six months medical and housekeeping costs. Grandma’s physicians, pharmacists, and service providers were called.

Medical prescription, home health aid, electricity, and grocery bills were sent to her. She checked every expenditure on a spreadsheet.

Jason squandered away at least $125,000 unrelated to Grandma’s care because everything cost like $25,000. Aunt Rebecca handed me the spreadsheet, and seeing how little Jason spent on Grandma compared to what he stole made me sick.

Ella informed her bank manager of the unusual transaction patterns and requested authorization to speak publicly. The bank manager examined Ella’s paperwork and said they should have seen the behavior sooner, but the power of attorney documentation appeared genuine, so the system didn’t identify exploitation.

He let Ella provide official statements and that the bank would cooperate with any investigation. Ella was glad she could now speak freely without privacy concerns.

I met a state dispute and elder abuse civil attorney, Mr. Thompson. His downtown office smelled like coffee and old books.

Mr. Wood Thompson, 60, had gray hair and nose-pushed reading glasses. Bank statements, Ella’s timeline, Aunt Rebecca’s expense spreadsheet, and power of attorney were brought.

Mr. Thompson studied everything for an hour, asking several questions about Jason’s relationship with Grandma and the time frame. Jason’s power of attorney gave him legal access to Grandma’s cash, limiting criminal punishment, but civil action for breach of fiduciary duty was more likely.

Gambling with power of attorney money violates that obligation. Rereading the material, Mr. Thompson decided, “We had a strong case that Jason violated his fiduciary responsibility by using Grandma’s money for personal benefit instead of her care.”

He explained civil litigation and recovery. He said legal fees could reach $6,500 and Jason may not recover anything if he has no assets.

Add, even if we won the case and got a judgment, collecting money from someone who’s broke and has gambling debts is extremely difficult. Mr. Thompson said, “It depends on whether we want justice and responsibility or money back. Even if you never collect, a court decision may be important.”

I suggested discussing cost sharing with Uncle David. After explaining the situation, Uncle David agreed to pay half the attorney fees because it wasn’t about money; they wanted Jason to receive real consequences.

Seeking Justice in Court

We knew my parents wouldn’t sue their golden child. Calling Mr. Thompson again, I said we would sue civilly.

He needed a $6,500 retainer from each of us to start paperwork. My mom called crying that afternoon to ask me not to sue Jason.

She said a lawsuit would destroy any chance of healing and moving forward as the family was already broken. Jason ruined the family by stealing from Grandma and letting her live in terrible conditions while gambling away her life savings.

Mom said I was cruel and vindictive and would regret it when our relationship was too damaged. Dad emailed me and Uncle David saying suing Jason would be harassment and that they would contact their attorneys about countersuing.

He stated they had documentation of their years of help and that we were insensitive by targeting their child. The email showed me family separation wasn’t temporary or fixable; it persisted and worsened.

David forwarded Dad’s email to Mr. Thompson. David questioned countersuit risk.

Mr. Thompson said it was a mere threat to terrify us and that we may sue for fiduciary breach. He encouraged me to document parental interactions in case harassment escalated.

I handed Mr. Thompson half the retainer, and Uncle David paid the next day. Jason hired criminal defense attorney Richard Crane three days after we paid the fee.

Uncle David learned via police contacts before my parents. Mr. Crane soon informed Detective Moore that Jason’s gambling addiction was a mental illness that hampers his judgment and decision-making.