EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A 47-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years in state prison on Thursday for exploitation of an elderly person and theft following a joint plea agreement, according to the El Paso District Attorney’s Office and the El Paso County Attorney’s Office.
According to the district attorney’s office, Thomas Jacinto Lopez pleaded guilty to three felony charges, including exploitation of an elderly person and theft of property, in cases handled by the DA’s office and the County Attorney’s Office. All sentences will run concurrently.
The plea was approved in the 409th District Court with Judge Sam Medrano presiding over the case, with Lopez admitting to targeting an 89-year-old woman, stealing tens of thousands of dollars under the guise of performing home maintenance.
According to the district attorney’s office, while the scheme began in 2017, the victim reported the activity to the El Paso Police in 2023 when Lopez visited the victim at an assisted living center under the pretense that he was performing home maintenance. This is when Lopez acquired over $16,000 by demanding back payment.
The second conviction involved a series of deceptive business practices victimizing 13 individuals, resulting in theft valued between $150,000 and $300,000 from 2020 to 2022.
According to the district attorney’s office, Lopez took money for construction projects, such as pool installations, but abandoned the jobs after minimal work. The El Paso Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and Anthony Police Department jointly investigated the cases.
The district attorney’s office said they used Lopez’s prior felony drug and theft convictions from Midland, Texas, to enhance the punishment range to a 25-year sentence.
District Attorney James Montoya said in a statement about Lopez’s case, “The Defendant’s actions of repeatedly targeting an elderly widow in declining physical and mental health are absolutely reprehensible. Our Office will continue to work with law enforcement to hold those who engage in this kind of predatory behavior accountable.”
County Attorney Christina Sanchez added, “Our office is aggressively pursuing individuals who engage in deceptive business practices that harm El Paso families and cost our community hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Sanchez urged residents who have been scammed to report to their local police department.
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