An arrest has been made in a fraud case in which a woman, over the course of many years, forged her husband’s signature on legal documents, pension checks, monetary settlements, and social security checks, allegedly defrauding him out of approximately $600,000.

On March 8, 2020, two complainants came to the East Haven Police Department to report a large-scale fraud. The victim of the fraud stated that over the course of 20 years, his wife, identified as Donna Marino, now 63, had been stealing his money as far back as 1999. He further stated that Marino controlled all of his finances during their time together and that he had no idea that she was stealing from him.

Through the investigation, which was conducted by Sergeant Gregory Borer, it was determined that Marino would forge her husband’s signature on his pension checks, Social Security checks, worker’s compensation settlements, and other legal documents, before depositing the funds in a secret bank account without his knowledge. The complainant stated that he was unaware of his wife’s activities until it was brought to his attention in March 2019. He advised investigators that after taking time to consider his options, he decided to file a formal complaint.

It was also learned that Marino fraudulently obtained power of attorney for her husband by having a friend, who is a notary public, sign the legal document when her husband was not present. She then used her power of attorney status to fraudulently file taxes in her husband’s name.

Marino advised investigators that she was able to hide her fraudulent activities over the years by convincing her husband that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She further stated that she believed that convincing him that he had Alzheimer’s disease would prevent him from going to the bank, ultimately to discover the low balances on his accounts. The investigation also revealed that Marino pawned some of her husband’s belongings, including jewelry and rare coins, without his knowledge or consent. Marino advised investigators that the mismanaged money was often used to help her other family members with things like rent, groceries and car payments, without her husband’s knowledge or consent.

At the conclusion of the months-long investigation, an arrest warrant affidavit was applied for, which was granted. Marino turned herself into police headquarters on Oct. 27. She was charged with larceny in the first degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-122 and forgery in the third degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-140. She was held on a $25,000 court-set bond and faced a judge on Oct. 28 at G.A. 23, 121 Elm Street, New Haven.