Three Filipinos who owned and worked in an unlicensed hospice care facility in Riverside, California were found guilty of elderly abuse by the California Department of Justice (DOJ).
The suspects, identified as Joel Ombao, Ronnel Tiburcio, and Nimfa Molina, were convicted of "neglect and abuse of severely disabled elderly patients," according to a press statement released by California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office on Aug. 1.
Ombao was said to be the owner of many hospice facilities. Tiburcio served as his assistant, while Molina was a registered nurse.
The victims involved were six disabled residents of the Secure Hands board and care facility, whose ages range from 32 to 66 years-old.
Investigators reportedly found the victims "malnourished, living in filth, and without basic care in a house that did not have the staff, equipment, or licensing needed to care for the residents."
A jury trial was held that led to their convictions -- Ombao with four counts of felony elder abuse, facing around seven years in prison; Tiburcio with six counts of felony elder abuse, facing around nine years in prison; and Molina with one misdemeanor count of elder abuse, facing up to six months in county jail.
They will be sentenced on Aug. 25.
The case was investigated by joint efforts of the California DOJ's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) and the Riverside Police Department; and later prosecuted by the DMFEA.
“Caretakers of elderly and dependent adults have the responsibility of protecting their patients’ dignity, safety, and health. Instead, the victims in this case suffered horrific neglect and lack of care at the hands of those who were trusted with their well-being," said Attorney General Bonta.
"Let today’s conviction serve as a warning: We will not allow those who abuse California’s most vulnerable adults to get away with their despicable crimes,” he added.
Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez also commended the partnership of the police with the DOJ and DMFEA to "help bring an end to this network of fraud, abuse, and essentially a form of human trafficking of our elderly."