Sugar Grove man charged in theft

A Sugar Grove man has been charged with financially exploiting an elderly person.

Nick Ventrella, 48, of the 300 block of Mallard Lane, turned himself in to Geneva police last week. He posted $500 bond and was released.

He is accused of stealing more than $300 but less than $5,000 from the bank account of a person older than 80. Ventrella had power of attorney for the victim, according to police and court records. Police say he used the money for airline tickets, a vacation and dining out.

Ventrella had admitted the victim to Provena Geneva Care Center on East State Street in June 2010. Provena officials called police in December, suspecting financial exploitation because Ventrella had not made agreed-upon payments for the victim's bill. By then, the victim's account with them was nearly $53,000 in arrears.

Provena officials told police that Ventrella told them the victim wanted him to be able to spend the money, and that he was unable to care for the victim at home because the victim had dementia. They also told police that Ventrella was living in a house that was in a land trust for the victim. Kane County Recorder of Deeds show the property being bought by a trust in 2009.

When police interviewed the victim, he said he had not given Ventrella permission to take money. The victim told police he had worked for 32 years in Chicago for the postal service, retiring in 1992.

The nature of the relationship between Ventrella and the victim was redacted from the Geneva police report, and not specified in the felony complaint.

On March 11 the state Department of Health Care and Family Services recorded a lien on the Sugar Grove property for reimbursement “for all assistance paid to or on behalf of” the victim. The lien states the victim is also a claim-holder for the property. Such liens are routinely filed against properties and estates of people who receive Medicaid assistance for long-term care.