{"id":60394,"date":"2026-02-05T17:41:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T01:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=60394"},"modified":"2026-02-05T17:41:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T01:41:00","slug":"man-gets-16-years-for-elder-fraud-scheme-involving-forged-trusts-stolen-property-after-victim-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=60394","title":{"rendered":"Man Gets 16 Years for Elder Fraud Scheme Involving Forged Trusts, Stolen Property After Victim Died"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"A Studio City man was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that targeted elderly victims, stole real estate and cash through forged documents, and involved the disposal of one victim\u2019s body, officials stated Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew Jason Kroth<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, 52, also known as \u201cSpeedy,\u201d was sentenced to 200 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution. <\/span><\/p>\n

He pleaded guilty in October 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He has been in federal custody since August 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors stated that Kroth broke into an elderly man\u2019s home in summer 2020, later returning to steal mail and jewelry. After the victim died \u2014 a death that went unreported \u2014 Kroth provided the man\u2019s personal information to co-conspirators, who forged trust and power-of-attorney documents to sell the victim\u2019s home and drain financial accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Authorities said the conspirators later dismembered and disposed of the victim\u2019s body to avoid detection.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Court records show Kroth also received proceeds from the fraudulent sale of another victim\u2019s property through a joint bank account. The wire-fraud conspiracy ran from at least 2020 through January 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a sentencing memo, prosecutors said Kroth admitted he targeted the home because it appeared \u201cuncared for,\u201d using a fake \u201cwelfare check\u201d as a ruse during the initial break-in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kroth also admitted possessing about 120 grams of methamphetamine in January 2023, along with cutting agents, a digital scale, ammunition and packaging materials, intending to resell the drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Co-conspirator Caroline Herrling<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, 46, of West Hills, is serving a 20-year federal sentence after pleading guilty in March 2023. Another defendant, James Rhys Kantor<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, 46, of Cumming, Georgia, is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 19 after pleading guilty in October 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service<\/span><\/span> and the Los Angeles Police Department<\/span><\/span> Valley Bureau Homicide.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES A Studio City man was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that targeted elderly victims, stole real estate and cash through forged documents,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMan Gets 16 Years for Elder Fraud Scheme Involving Forged Trusts, Stolen Property After Victim Died<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"LOS ANGELES A Studio City man was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that targeted elderly victims, stole real\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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