A recent article in the Franchise Tax Board of California newsletter centered around a scam that affected hundreds of San Diego senior citizens that were bilked out of almost $2M.   SD DA Bonnie Dumanis charged a man, and his wife, with 11 felony counts including burglary, grand theft, theft from an elder, tax evasion and other changes.  The couple sold phony “in-home service agreements.”

Michael Woodward (50) and his wife, Melissa Woodward, (47), were arrested at their home in Las Vegas, Nevada and extradited to San Diego to face charges.  If convicted, they face up to 16 years in a local prison.

According to sources, for almost a decade, the couple swindled 238 San Diego seniors “selling them” services on a prepaid basis.  The couple sold the seniors “unlimited” non-medical services such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, personal hygiene assistance, laundry and shopping.

The Woodward’s caper in San Diego followed a multi-state scheme, including Washington, Oregon, Minnesota and Texas.  All totaled, the Woodward’s stole more than $6M across the United States.