Feds: Polk couple stole $400,000 from foster child

Feds: Polk couple stole $400,000 from foster child

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 25, 2010

TAMPA - First, his father murdered his mother.

Then, authorities say, the teen's foster parents stole $400,000 in life insurance left by his mother.

Radhames Antonio Oropeza, 53, and Asia Concepcion Oropeza, 52, of Davenport, were arrested today on charges of conspiring to commit fraud and wire fraud against their former foster child, who is now 24.

"The nature of this crime stinks," U.S. Magistrate Thomas B. McCoun III told the Polk County couple.

They told McCoun they currently have two other foster children, ages 7 and 3, and receive about $900 a month from the state to care for the children.

Officials are not releasing the victim's name in the fraud case. He was 14 when he went to live with the couple after his father murdered his mother in New York. His father is serving a life sentence.

The teen received his mother's life insurance proceeds after he turned 18.

The Oropezas moved to Davenport about five years ago, officials said. According to a federal indictment unsealed today, the couple flew the teen to Florida for a visit and tried to persuade him to use the life insurance money to invest in properties.

Eventually, the victim agreed to deposit the money into certificates of deposit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill said Asia Oropeza had her name added to the accounts without the victim's knowledge. She then used the account as collateral for loans and transferred the money to another bank.

"None of this money went to the victim," O'Neill told McCoun.

He said the young man sent the couple letters and telephoned repeatedly trying to get the money back. But the story kept changing about where the money was.

"This is a classic example of a crime of greed," O'Neill said.

O'Neill said federal authorities were alerted by an attorney who does pro bono work for foster children.

He said investigators were unaware of the couple's two current foster children and would be alerting state authorities about the fraud case.

Asked about their sources of income, the couple said they receive about $900 a month for each of two local rental properties they own. Radhames Oropeza said he earns about $1,000 a month as a handyman.

The couple said they own their Davenport home without a mortgage and that Asia Oropeza owns a house in New York worth about $900,000, although that home is in foreclosure.

O'Neill said the government would seize properties to compensate the victim's $400,000.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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