BERKELEY COUNTY, W.Va. — A woman from Spring Hill, Florida, pleaded guilty this week to defrauding millions of dollars out of a Berkeley County man who suffered from dementia.
Wendy Renee Bunner, 48, pled guilty Monday to one count of money laundering. Court documents and statements show that Bunner conspired with her husband, Samuel Bunner, to obtain a cashier’s check worth $280,318.73 from a United Bank account that belonged to the elderly victim. The couple used the money to purchase real estate in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Samuel Bunner previously pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Court documents show that Samuel Bunner defrauded the same victim out of $1,906,229 by selling his real estate, emptying out his investment and bank accounts, and opening a credit card in his name.
The Bunners used the money that they stole to purchase homes, campers, cars, and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of consumer goods.
“The Bunners took advantage of a vulnerable victim to fund a lifestyle that they otherwise could not have afforded,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Bill Ihlenfeld. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue those who prey upon the elderly to ensure that there is accountability when this type of conduct occurs.”
Samuel Bunner faces up to 30 years in prison. Wendy Bunner is looking at as much as 10 years in prison.
Sentencing hearings are expected to take place later this year.