Ryan Todd Powers

A Lehigh Acres man has been found guilty of exploitation of an elderly or disabled person.

On Sept. 1, a Lee County jury found Ryan Todd Powers, 41, of 710 North Ave., guilty of four counts of exploiting an elderly or disabled person following a four-day trial, the State Attorney’s Office reported.

He faces up to 60 years in prison at his sentencing, which is set for Oct. 2.

Powers became the power of attorney for the victim and her husband in August 2015. After obtaining power of attorney, he opened a fraudulent checking account in her name without her knowledge or approval and had her monthly social security checks redirected into the new account.

From October 2015 to July, he proceeded to use the account, along with her husband’s account for his own personal use, while refusing to pay for the victim and her husband’s care. While the victim was in a healthcare facility, she had no belongings and had to have clothes donated to her.

The victims had several assets which Powers sold, and in November, he used the power of attorney to deed the victim’s home to himself. Power’s actions resulted in a total loss exceeding $50,000.

Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Royal and J.D. Miller handled the case.

“Royal promised the victim that she would do everything that she could for her and as a result of this verdict the victim may ultimately get her home back,” Samantha Syoen, spokeswoman for the State Attorney’s Office, said in a prepared statement.

Source: State Attorney’s Office