Couple found guilty of identity theft, elder financial abuse of late Sanger golf course owner

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A jury has convicted Gina Abercrombie and her fiancé, Justin Teel, on financial abuse and identity theft charges in a high-profile case involving the late owner of a Valley golf course.

The verdict, delivered Tuesday after more than two months of trial proceedings, followed extensive testimony and thousands of documents presented by prosecutors.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Lisa Urrizola said the evidence showed the couple stole more than $800,000 from Abercrombie's stepfather, Randy Hansen, between 2017 and 2022.

Hansen owned Sherwood Forest Golf Club near Sanger and died in 2020.

Prosecutors said the scheme spanned five years and involved Abercrombie and Teel impersonating Hansen and applying for business loans in his name.

Urrizola characterized the fraud as escalating over time.

"They dipped their toe in the pool, and then they put their leg, and then they jumped in, and they never stopped," Urrizola said.

Throughout the trial, Abercrombie and Teel were seen glancing at the courtroom gallery and, at times, appearing confident.

That demeanor changed as the verdict was read.

Abercrombie shook her head and appeared emotional, later telling someone in the gallery the verdict was wrong.

Urrizola dismissed the reaction.

"I think both of them are sociopaths, and they've never been held accountable for their behavior, and they believe they were going to get away with it, and they did for a very long time," she said.

Prosecutors emphasized the coordination between the two defendants, arguing the scheme was deliberate and long in the making.

Urrizola said their connection dated back years.

"Teal is a felon; he was paroled in 2015 for mortgage fraud, perjury, and welfare fraud. They knew each other from high school, and he looked her up when he got out of prison, and then her mother passed away, and that was ripe for the picking," she said.

The district attorney's office said it plans to seek the maximum sentence of 5 years and 4 months in prison for both defendants.

"Based on the sophistication, based on the fact that they took advantage of this man, that he was a family member, that it went on for over three years, so there was never a reflection by them to stop," Urrizola said.

In addition to potential prison time, the defendants could be ordered to pay up to $875,000 in restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for June 29.

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