Couple Gets 4 Years for Stealing from Husband's Elderly Mother

A former husband and wife from San Clemente were each sentenced today to four years in prison for stealing about $360,000 from the man's 92-year-old mother.

Peter Garcia, 70, and Virginia Kay Furr-Garcia, 50, stole the money from closed annuity funds belonging to the victim, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The funds were closed without the victim's knowledge.

The couple used the money to pay for groceries, gas and utility bills, prosecutors said.

The victim discovered the theft when she was unable to pay her bills at an assisted living center.

The couple were convicted last month of one felony count each of grand theft, conspiracy to defraud another of property, conspiracy to commit forgery and theft from an elder.

Jurors in Santa Ana also found true sentencing enhancements for a loss in excess of $200,000 and aggravated white collar crime in excess of $100,000.

At the time of the crime, Garcia and Furr-Garcia were married, but they have since divorced.

- City News Service