A 55-year-old Kennesaw man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to emptying the bank account and investment accounts of his ailing father-in-law, stealing $355,000 over two years.
Donald J. Eye said in court he had access to the John Scoggins’s accounts because Eye’s wife had power of attorney over her father’s financial affairs after moving into an assisted living center because of his dementia. Eye said he also made himself an authorized user on the elderly man’s credit card and charged up to $9,000.
After Eye’s brother-in-law, Randy Scoggins, now has power of attorney for his father’s financial matter. Randy Scoggins said it was “a stunning moment” when he reaized that there was only $67 left out of the hundreds of thousands of dollars his parents had saved.
Scoggins said his 85-year-old father had to leave the assisted living home and relatives are now caring for him..
Eye was charged with racketeering, theft, making false statements, financial identity fraud, financial transaction card fraud and elder exploitation.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley also sentenced Eye to 10 years probation once he is released from prison. She will hold a hearing on restitution later.
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