SALT LAKE CITY — Eight people, including a convicted murderer, face federal charges for allegedly taking nearly $275,000 from an 80-year-old Utah woman in what authorities say is a case of “romance fraud.”
A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment against Frank Gene Powell, 51, and seven others alleging they conspired to take money and assets from the woman in exchange for false promises to perform work on her property.
Investigators say Powell orchestrated the scam and enticed the woman, who authorities say has diminished mental capacity, into a romantic relationship.
Powell was released on parole in 2017 after spending 29 years in the Utah State Prison for the murder of a man in Utah County in 1987 that began as a fight over whose truck was faster. He was arrested last October in California for allegedly violating parole and returned to prison in Utah.
Investigators say Powell, of Hurricane, told the woman he planned to marry her, despite his longtime romantic relationship with another woman. The woman, Faye Ann Renteria, 42, of Hurricane, also faces criminal charges in the case.
The elderly woman received a two-page, handwritten letter from Powell in prison last November with smiley faces and the words “sealed with a lot of care” on the envelope.
“Hey today I was told I took $250,000.00 from you and that you are mad and hate me. I pray that is not true and when you get this all worked out we are still getting married and you love me. Don’t give up on us we belong together in this world. Please tell me you are still with me. I don’t know if my heart will make it without you,” the letter read, according to court documents.
The woman met Powell last March after police say he knocked on her door and told her he believed her home needed repairs and he was willing to do it for a fee. Jobs included painting the exterior of the house, resurfacing the driveway and doing yard work. Most of the work wasn’t completed and was extremely poor quality when it was done, according to documents.
Powell and the others convinced the woman to pay up front by cashing personal checks and giving them the money as well as writing checks directly to them, amounting to at least $273,849, authorities say. Powell also convinced her to deed over her Kolob-area cabin, according to court documents.
“We prioritize investigations and prosecutions where seniors are targeted for victimization,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said. “We revere our elders, we do not defraud them.”
In addition to Powell and Renteria, those charged in the case are Bubby Mern Shepherd, 58, of Lodi, California; Gloria Jean Powell, 74, of St. George; Terrence Quincy Powell, 23, of St. George; Rocky James Powell Mott, 40, of Hurricane; Martell Taz Powell, 25, of Cedar City; and Angela Ruth McDuffie, 53, of Lehi.
The indictment includes one count of wire fraud conspiracy, five counts of money laundering, two counts of destruction or concealment of records and tangible objects in a federal investigation, one count of concealment of a document or object, and one count of tampering with a witness or victim.