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Woman, husband, son arrested on charges of stealing money from 79-year-old father

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A woman, along with her husband and his son, were arrested on charges of exploitation of the elderly and grand theft after investigators said she deposited numerous checks from her then 79-year-old father's accounts into the trio's personal checking account.  
 
Deputies say Cynthia Thomas, Richard Henry Thomas and Richard Aaron Thomas siphoned off more than $2 million from Cynthia Thomas' father.
 
Investigators said the alleged scheme was going on for years and it began when this Richard Chadwick signed over power of attorney to his daughter because he was physically no longer able to care for himself or his finances.
 
The three arrested are all accused of cashing numerous checks, which they deposited into their checking accounts, from the finances of Chadwick.
 
"He entrusted his daughter with the power of attorney to handle his financial affairs and his daily care," said Orange County Sheriff's Detective William Cruz. "But rather than handling his financial affairs, she, her husband, and their son helped themselves to all of his money, leaving him pretty much destitute.
 
Detectives said from 2010 to 2013 Cynthia Thomas spent close to $2.8 million of her father's money. The two men are accused of cashing $100,000 checks made out to their own business.
 
"He had absolutely no idea with the issue of these large checks that were coming out of his account," said Cruz.
 
All three face charges of grand theft and elderly exploitation greater than $100,000. If convicted they could face a maximum of 30 years in prison.
 
The three were booked into the Orange County Jail.