CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A former worker at a Westlake nursing home accused of stealing credit cards from multiple residents and spending thousands of dollars, will be arraigned in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Tuesday.
Shiela Villanueva, 43, was indicted on a total of 14 counts, seven counts of identity fraud and seven counts of receiving stolen property.
Villanueva was an STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant) at Rae Ann Suburban Nursing and Rehabilitation in the 29500 block of Detroit Rd.
Westlake Police Captain Gerald Vogel said Villanueva stole from at least eight residents.
"Unfortunately, over a number months she had been lifting people's credit cards or copying their numbers, and using them for her own benefit," said Captain Vogel.
Villanueva allegedly used the victim's credit cards at multiple places, including, restaurants, Amazon, Doordash, and the Children's Museum.
"It's a huge breach of privacy, especially someone who is going to take advantage of our most vulnerable citizens," said Captain Vogel. "They're supposed to be taking care of them, yet they steal from them which is disgusting."
Police were first contacted about the thefts in April, but building the case took months. Officers had to track down victims who had sometimes moved out of the facility or died.
The nursing home fired Villanueva on Aug. 28 following its own internal investigation.
"They don't want bad apples either, they questioned her for their own internal investigation, and they did fire her," said Captain Vogel.