Auburn nursing home caretaker arrested, accused of using residents’ credit cards, sheriff says
Placer sheriff’s detectives have arrested a Yuba City woman, who is accused of credit card fraud involving at least two residents and one guest of the elder care center in North Auburn where she worked as a nursing assistant, authorities said.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office says it received two reports of the possible fraud on Nov. 22 and began investigating, obtaining surveillance footage from multiple stores where fraudulent purchases may have taken place, according to social-media posts by the sheriff’s office.
“Surveillance video revealed the female suspect wearing nursing ‘scrubs’ and a surgical mask during the transactions,” the post by the Sheriff’s Office said. “One of the cashiers was suspicious of her appearance, so they followed her to her car and documented the vehicle information.”
Video posted by the Sheriff’s Office shows a woman in maroon scrubs and a mask quickly exiting a department store with at least three shopping bags in one hand.
Detectives worked with management at the Auburn Oaks Care Center and identified the suspect as Karen Paredes-Luquin, 29, who had been a certified nursing assistant at the facility.
Deputies arrested Paredes-Luquin recently upon her arrival to work, according to the Sheriff’s Office social-media posts. She faces numerous charges, including three felony counts each of identity theft and fraud involving an elder in excess of $950.
Paredes-Luquin was booked into the Placer County jail but has been released after posting $100,000 bail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“We take all matters regarding the conduct of employees as well as the safety of our patients seriously,” Auburn Oaks Care Center administrator Ethan Flake said in an emailed statement to The Sacramento Bee. “Moreover, the allegations made against this former team member do not reflect the values we hold at our facility. Our priority remains to provide the highest level of care for the patient and their families.”
This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 8:46 AM.
