CEDAR RAPIDS – A man who drained his grandmother’s checking account, living trust account, and money market savings account of $118,107.80 as she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia was sentenced today to 21 months in prison.
Andrew Garrett, age 32, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 10, 2020 guilty plea to a one count charging him with wire fraud.
In a plea agreement, Garrett admitted his grandmother was unable to care for herself due to memory issues including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Garrett used a debit card belonging to his grandmother to spend her funds for his personal benefit. Garrett concealed his scheme to defraud by claiming the expenses were related to repairs at his grandmother’s condominium.
Garrett was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Garrett was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment and ordered to repay 118,107.80 in restitution. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Garrett was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Cole and investigated by the Marion Police Department.
