Web Exclusive: Former Fresno finance director victim of elder abuse

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Elder abuse of a financial nature has a victim proving this can happen to anyone as they get older and start having trouble maintaining their independence.

In an arrest warrant filed by Fresno County sheriff's investigators, the victim is Walter Berg, who is 96 now, but was once the city controller for the city of Fresno. In other words, he was in charge of finances for the entire city of Fresno until he retired in 1979.

Investigators say a woman named Delilah Alejandrez came into his life as an in-home care provider in 2012. By 2014, she was working directly for Berg... to clean his home, cook for him, and keep his records.

The warrant details how she allegedly stole more than $140,000 in cash and jewelry from him, including the watch he got for serving the city of Fresno for 30 years.

But most of it was in cash - through ATM withdrawals and checks written on a retirement account.

And Berg had no idea.

Sheriff's deputies got tipped off by a bank because Alejandrez had deposited close to $100,000 in one year, all from Berg's accounts.

She's now charged with 14 felony counts of theft from an elder adult and deputies arrested her last month.

She has pleaded not guilty and posted a $250,000 bail last weekend, so she's a free woman right now.

Berg has no direct relatives still living, but a niece is now coming in from the LA area to handle his finances.