Son steals $1.3M from mom, causing her eviction from senior facility, Georgia cops say
A Georgia man found guilty of draining his mother’s life savings is heading to prison, prosecutors said.
Thomas Glenn North III, 64, was handed a 10-year prison sentence plus 40 years of probation after he was convicted of stealing more than $1.3 million from his mom, according to the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.
Over three years, North emptied her bank account and trust funds, depleting her life savings, prosecutors said in a Nov. 4 news release.
He also failed to pay her rent at an assisted living facility in Woodstock, leading to her eviction, officials said.
“At a vulnerable time in her life, the victim in this case trusted her son to serve as power of attorney, with the expectation that he would safeguard her finances and well-being,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Rachel Hines, of the Special Victims Unit, Office of the District Attorney, said in the release.
“Instead, he shamelessly took funds from a family trust, stole the proceeds of her home sale, and completely depleted her life savings, forcing her to rely on the support of other family members,” Hines said.
The sentence comes weeks after North pleaded guilty, on Sept. 26, to one count of neglect to a disabled or elderly adult, one count of exploitation and intimidation of a disabled or elderly adult, and 35 counts of theft, prosecutors said.
The Woodstock Police Department began investigating after a family member learned the woman’s bank account had been wiped out and she was facing eviction, according to the release.
The victim’s daughter appeared virtually at a plea hearing and described “her mother’s feelings of betrayal” over being fleeced by her own son and the impact it was having on her health, prosecutors said.
As part of his sentence, North must pay $50,000 a year in restitution, in order to pay back the $1.35 million that was stolen, prosecutors said. He’s also barred from contacting his mother or anyone in her family.
“Elder abuse takes many forms, including theft,” District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said in the release. “Sadly, this is often a crime that involves family members.”
Woodstock is about a 30-mile drive northwest from downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published November 4, 2024 at 1:23 PM with the headline "Son steals $1.3M from mom, causing her eviction from senior facility, Georgia cops say."