BANNING: Fullerton woman accused of defrauding 90-year-old victim of $40,000

BANNING — A Fullerton woman officials allege stole more than $40,000 from an elderly victim in Banning was arrested last Wednesday following an investigation covering two counties. According to Banning PD, the financial abuse dated as far back as September, 2017.

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36-year-old, Wendy Anne Brewer, was arrested at her Fullerton residence, according to a Banning PD release. She was later transported to Riverside and booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of financial elder abuse involving theft or embezzlement.

Jail records indicate Brewer was released within hours of her arrest after posting $25,000 bail. She is scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court, Aug 9.

During an investigation Banning police detectives learned that the victim, a 90-year-old Banning resident, had been defrauded of approximately $40,000.

As the investigation was continuing, detectives identified Brewer as a possible suspect. Reports have indicated the victim was possibly Brewer’s own grandmother.

Based on their investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Brewer’s arrest and located the woman at her Fullerton residence. She was taken into custody without incident, according to Banning PD.

Banning PD detectives have asked that anyone who may have additional information regarding their investigation contact the department’s Detective Bureau at (951) 849-1511. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-3247 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.