Plymouth Man Accused Of Financially Exploiting, Abusing Mother

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Plymouth man is accused of financially exploiting his 90-year-old mother, whom authorities say was wheeled into a bank hours before her reported death by her son, who over the years allegedly stole more than $260,000 from her accounts.

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said that 57-year-old David Vanzo faces charges of financially exploiting a vulnerable adult, swindle and criminal neglect. He was arrested Thursday in Pomona, California, where he awaits extradition back to Minnesota.

County Attorney Mike Freeman said this is one of the first cases where his office has been able to charge criminal neglect since the crime was made a felony three years ago.

"The horrible way he treated his mother is exactly why we wanted the upgraded charge and tougher penalty," he said.

Authorities say that Vanzo began living with his mother in 2007 and eventually got power of attorney over her finances. From 2012 until her death, he took $260,000 from her accounts and through a reverse mortgage of her home.

He allegedly spent the money on gambling and women.

On the day his mother died, Vanzo took her to a Wells Fargo bank to withdraw more than $800 from her account. Employees reported that the elderly woman was slumped in her chair and her feet were dragging on the ground.

A cab drove them to their Plymouth home, and the driver told authorities that Vanzo dropped off his mother and demanded to go to Buffalo Wild Wings immediately after.

Later that night, Vanzo reported his mother's death to authorities. When they entered the home, they found the woman in a soiled bed with her coat and boots still on. She had bed sores all over her body.

Authorities say the medical examiner's office was unable to determine if the woman was dead or alive when Vanzo wheeled her into the bank.

"Mr. Vanzo took advantage of his mother's ailing health and systematically robbed her of her assets, and in my opinion, of her dignity as well," said Plymouth Police Chief Mike Goldstein, in a statement. "His actions were outright despicable."