Woman Who Defrauded Reagans Imprisoned Again
An 83-year-old Van Nuys woman, who six years ago was sent to jail for fraudulently opening escrow on then-President Ronald Reagan’s home, on Tuesday was sentenced to state prison for two years for defrauding two elderly women. Authorities said that in 1981, Ann N. Roberts, then known as Ann Yarbrough, convinced the Reagans that she and her husband, James Yarbrough, were potential buyers of the Reagans’ Pacific Palisades home.
In 1983, the Yarbroughs pleaded guilty to an elaborate scheme to use phony checks to open escrow on the house. In 1985, Ann Yarbrough was sentenced to 40 months in prison for her part in the scheme.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Aug. 8, 1991 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday August 8, 1991 Home Edition Metro Part B Page 2 Column 4 Metro Desk 2 inches; 46 words Type of Material: Correction
Fraud charge--An article on Wednesday incorrectly reported that Ann N. Roberts, 83, of Van Nuys, had been convicted of defrauding two elderly women. In fact, Roberts was convicted in Van Nuys Superior Court of bilking a 62-year-old woman out of $8,000 but was acquitted of fraudulently obtaining $2,000 from a 76-year-old woman.
On April 12, Roberts was convicted in Van Nuys Superior Court of borrowing $2,000 that she did not intend to repay from Mildred Hendricks, a 76-year-old Van Nuys neighbor, saying she needed the money to buy a tombstone for a deceased relative. In the second case, Roberts took $8,000 from Joyce Lorigo, 62, whose son faced drunk driving charges. Roberts had promised to use the money to help hire an attorney.
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