A yoga instructor-actress has pleaded guilty to defrauding a wealthy ophthalmologist in Malibu out of over $2.7 million before his death. She then attempted to siphon an additional amount exceeding $20 million from his estate. The plea was made to various federal charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. The defendant’s co-conspirator, a hairstylist from Fresno, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in March.
The victim, Dr. Mark Sawusch, was a successful investor worth over $60 million, but he suffered from mental illness and was unable to care for himself. The couple, Anna Rene Moore and Anthony Flores, took advantage of his vulnerability by pretending to be his caregivers and close friends. They moved into his beachfront Malibu home rent-free and slowly gained control over his life.
In September 2017, after the victim’s severe mental breakdown and subsequent arrest, Flores convinced him to sign powers of attorney, granting Flores control over his finances. From then until May 2018, Flores and Moore diverted the victim’s funds to their own bank accounts, isolated him from his family and friends, and supplied him with drugs, including marijuana and LSD.
In the final days of the victim’s life, Flores and Moore gave him LSD, which further deteriorated his mental state. While he was under the influence, Flores changed the authentication feature on the victim’s online brokerage account, allowing him to transfer funds to his personal accounts. He initiated two $1 million wires just days before the victim’s death. After this, Flores and Moore left the victim, who was in mental distress and had evicted them from his home. They watched his deteriorating condition from a luxury hotel, using video cameras installed in the house.
After the victim’s death, Flores and Moore returned to the Malibu home and withdrew large sums of money from his accounts. They also concealed financial information from the victim’s family in Florida. The family filed a lawsuit, revealing the fraudulent activities. Despite court orders to return the stolen funds, the defendants failed to comply. They attempted to launder the money by transferring it through multiple accounts, in an effort to prevent the victim’s estate from recovering the funds.
In a settlement, Flores and Moore agreed to repay $1 million to the estate, but they have yet to fulfill this obligation. The case is scheduled for sentencing on November 6th.
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