A San Diego woman was slapped with probation and community service after she took over an elderly woman's home, officials said. In a brazen case of elder theft, Asfar "Benny" Shamlou was sentenced Tuesday to two years of formal probation and 150 hours of community service, according to the DA's News Center.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan was quick to point out that Shamlou took advantage to tragically manipulate an 89-year-old dementia patient who had suffered a stroke. The real estate hustler was also ordered to stay completely away from the property and the victim's family, who are working to take back their loved one's home. "This defendant took advantage of an elderly woman in poor health and was brought to justice by our DA Real Estate Fraud team," Stephan said in a statement obtained by DA's News Center.
The predatory saga began when Shamlou, a finance and real estate whiz on her website, moved into the empty house after spying it was vacant and had racked up back taxes. The audacious Shamlou even told the victim's family she owned the property after allegedly coughing up the cash for the taxes and after she shamelessly discarded the rightful owner's belongings.
The 67-year-old felon didn't hesitate to fully remodel the Carmel Mountain Ranch house, throwing caution and morals to the wind. Shamlou faced a jury in December of 2023 and landed herself guilty verdicts on all five felony counts thrown her way, including theft from an elder and grand theft of personal property. Deputy District Attorney John Dunn, who helms the DA's Real Estate Fraud Unit, led the prosecution that put the cuffs on Shamlou's real estate racket.
