Anita M. Volpe of Rockland Maine is accused of stealing nearly $1.2 million from three elderly incapacitated people. The state is recommending that she serve seven years in prison.
Volpe was indicted in March 2019 by a Knox County grand jury on three counts of felony theft, two counts of Class B misuse of entrusted property and one count of Class C misuse of entrusted property.
She pleaded not guilty at her April arraignment.
Volpe is free on bail with the condition that she not be a trustee, personal representative or handle finances for anyone else until the case is concluded.
The memorandum filed Oct. 7 by Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin alleges that Volpe stole $553,225 from Mary Webb; $490,416 from Patricia Wakefield; and more than $100,000 from Corine Hendrick. The state is proposing that Volpe pay restitution of those amounts to Webb and Wakefield’s estates.
Volpe served as the power of attorney for the three women.
According to the state, Volpe stole from Webb and Wakefield to repay the estate of Hendrick, who was her mother-in-law.
The longtime local lawyer is alleged to have used the stolen money to pay personal credit card debt, and pay for the purchases of real estate, according to the state’s memo to the court. The real estate included a parcel abutting her home in St. George.
Volpe also used some of the money to repair her Main Street law office in Rockland, according to the state. And she also is alleged to have used the money to repair her home.
Volpe also traded in a car owned by Wakefield to help pay for a pick-up truck.
Information excerpt from VillageSoup
