On July 31, 2025, the West St. Paul Police Department received a referral from Dakota County Adult Protection regarding the possible theft of assets belonging to a resident of an assisted living facility in the city. The facility reported that Victim’s daughter, MONICA LATRESE SMITH [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, had a power of attorney and Victim’s rent was frequently paid late or the checks bounced due to insufficient funds. Victim is physically disabled and suffers cognitive impairment. The adult protection investigator obtained Victim’s bank statements and observed numerous suspicious transactions that included ATM withdrawals at casinos and Apple cash transfers totaling approximately $1800 between January and June 2025. The power of attorney paperwork showed Defendant was not permitted to self-gift or gift to her dependents under the POA. Defendant initially agreed to meet with the investigator and an officer on September 18, 2025. The day before she called the officer to ask if she was going to be arrested.
Defendant cried and said she was sorry. Defendant later decided to not meet with the officer and investigator. The officer met with Victim on October 12, 2025, at the facility. Victim [NAME REDACTED] had a POA signed in 2020 that gave her access to Victim’s bank account. Victim was surprised to see all of the charges in her bank records and indicated she had not received any of the money or given Defendant permission to withdraw money or spend any of it. Between January through June 2025, there were $3376.61 in charges not made for the benefit of Victim.
Between July and October 2025, there were $1776.91 in charges not made for the benefit of Victim. The acts are aggregated into six-month segments pursuant to Minn. Stat. §§ 609.2335, subd. 3 and 609.52, subd. 3(5).
