FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — Closing arguments began Monday in a trial that has lasted for two months, with a Fresno County jury hearing from prosecutors one more time.
“They worked together in a joint venture, not out of love for Mr. Hansen, but out of greed to steal his money and his property,” prosecutor Lisa Urrizola said.
Gina Abercrombie and her fiancé, Justin Teel, are each accused of fraud. They have pleaded not guilty.
Investigators believe the two impersonated the woman’s late stepfather, who owned the Sherwood Forest Golf Club near Sanger. Prosecutors say it is a case of elder abuse that totaled more than $800,000 and lasted for years after Randy Hansen died.
“The amount of money she blew through, that they both blew through, is staggering,” Urrizola said.
For nearly four hours, prosecutors flipped through papers as they made their case to the jury, recapping dozens of…
Insurance fraud involves making false or exaggerated claims to an insurance provider.
- Hard Fraud: Someone deliberately causes a loss (e.g., setting fire to a warehouse or staging a car accident) specifically to collect a payout.
- Soft Fraud: More common and often viewed as “victimless” by the perpetrator. It involves exaggerating a legitimate claim, such as overstating the value of stolen items in a home burglary to cover the deductible.