Iowa woman faces decades in prison after stealing from deceased Navy seal fiancee and his elderly mother

CEDAR RAPIDS – A sordid tale unfolded in a rural Iowa community after authorities discovered a woman had conned an ex-Navy seal who died while swimming, and his elderly, disabled mother.

Robin Ann Bertelli, age 60, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

In a plea agreement, Bertelli admitted that in 2013, she began a romantic relationship a former Navy SEAL, who lived with his elderly and widowed mother in rural Central City, Iowa.  Bertelli soon moved in with the widow and her son.  The widow was unable to walk to her mailbox to get her mail.  Bertelli stole mail from the widow, including mail from her financial institution, Collins Community Credit Union (“CCCU”).

In December 2015, the former Navy SEAL received an inheritance of approximately $18,000 from a relative and deposited this inheritance into his checking account at CCCU.  In February 2016, Bertelli and the former Navy SEAL travelled together to Puerto Rico for a vacation.  On that trip, the former Navy SEAL unexpectedly died in Puerto Rico.  Bertelli reported to others that the former Navy SEAL went swimming, hit his head on a rock, and accidentally drowned.

Family members of the former Navy SEAL ultimately discovered that Bertelli had stolen blank CCCU checks from the former Navy SEAL and his mother.  From July 2013 through September 2016, Bertelli fraudulently made 63 checks payable to herself, inserted a dollar amount, and forged their signatures.  Bertelli deposited these forged checks into her own account at NXT Bank, fraudulently causing transfers of funds from the CCCU accounts of the former Navy SEAL and his mother into Bertelli’s account.  The three transfers from the former Navy SEAL’s CCCU account all occurred after the date of his death.  Bertelli stole a total of $191,500 from the CCCU accounts of the former Navy SEAL and his mother.  Bertelli used the stolen funds for her own purposes, including to purchase a luxury car.

The prosecution of Bertelli is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Abuse Initiative.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa has rededicated its efforts and resources to investigate and hold accountable those who have been involved in activities incompatible with ensuring that the state’s more vulnerable citizens are treated with dignity and respect.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Bertelli remains free on bond previously set.  Bertelli faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 32 years’ imprisonment, a $1,250,000, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.