5 of 7 arrested in fraud case; 1 dead, 1 at large

Marisa O’Neil

Police on Thursday arrested five people suspected of defrauding the

father of a man killed by officers during a December bank standoff.

Paul Acierno, 35, of Costa Mesa, was shot and killed by Newport

Beach police in a confrontation after he apparently tried to access

his father’s bank account in December, police said. Acierno was part

of a seven-person scheme to take the home and savings from his

father, who has dementia, Newport Beach police Sgt. Bill Hartford

said.

Acierno was living with his father, 64-year-old Rudolph Acierno,

in Costa Mesa at the time of the alleged fraud, Hartford said.

“He was caring for him and taking advantage of the relationship by

accessing the victim’s account, physically and emotionally

intimidating the victim to sign over assets to him,” Hartford said.

Paul Acierno and others successfully defrauded Rudolph Acierno out

of $100,000 before Paul Acierno was killed by police, Hartford said.

Rudolph Acierno’s former wife, Patricia Feldman Donaldson, 54, of Los

Angeles, tried to take a $500,000 life insurance policy out on her

former husband without his knowledge, police said.

Those in the conspiracy also tried to loot Rudolph Acierno’s

savings and get a $600,000 loan secured by his home, police said.

Paul Acierno had accessed his father’s account at a Fashion Island

Washington Mutual Bank, but the account was frozen in December for

suspicious activity, Hartford said.

When he tried to access it again on Dec. 28, bank employees called

police. When they showed up, Paul Acierno allegedly pointed a gun at

them, and he was shot by two officers.

Officers Darcy Andelin and Scott Grecco received the Medal of

Valor for their actions.

After a four-month investigation, Newport Beach police arrested

Donaldson, 31-year-old Sherice Mae Fernandez of Los Angeles,

55-year-old Eugene William Foster of Costa Mesa and 28-year-old

Shelby Ann Giraldo of Los Angeles. All are charged with conspiracy to

commit grand theft and dependent abuse, Hartford said.

They are being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Police are still seeking Paul Acierno’s girlfriend, 24-year-old

Kristie Ann Williams of Los Angeles.