By Trend News Line 2024-03-19 03:56:46.
**West Hills Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Bizarre Crime**
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A West Hills woman, Caroline Joanne Herrling, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for a heinous crime that involved identity theft, forgery, and disposing of a man’s body to make it look like he was still alive. The 44-year-old was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining ownership of real estate and money through identity theft and forged power-of-attorney forms in a nearly $3.9 million scheme.
**Preying on Vulnerable Homeowners**
Herrling, also known as Carrie Phenix, targeted properties in affluent neighborhoods that appeared neglected. Alongside her co-conspirators, she would seek out homes in upscale areas that showed signs of disrepair, indicating that the homeowners were unable to care for their properties. In 2020, they discovered a home in Sherman Oaks where an elderly man named Charles Wilding resided.
**Uncovering a Gruesome Scheme**
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Sometime in September 2020, Charles Wilding passed away under mysterious circumstances. Instead of reporting his death, Herrling and her accomplices took over his property while his body decomposed in his home. Utilizing forged power-of-attorney forms, Herrling pretended to act on Wilding’s behalf to steal his real estate and financial accounts.
**Elaborate Cover-Up**
When neighbors reported Wilding missing in October 2021, Herrling claimed to be a close friend of his and his family. She even went as far as paying a man to pretend to be Wilding to support the false narrative that he was still alive and had agreed to distribute his assets to Herrling and her co-conspirators. To ensure that Wilding’s death would never be discovered, Herrling and her associates dismembered his body and disposed of the remains in San Francisco Bay.
**Multiple Victims**
In addition to Charles Wilding, Herrling defrauded another victim by selling his home without his consent using fake identity documents. This victim, who was already struggling with mental health issues, tragically took his own life after losing his home. Herrling used the proceeds from this fraudulent sale to purchase a house in West Hills, bringing the total loss amount in the cases to $3,887,051.
**Legal Consequences**
Herrling pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in March 2023 and has been in federal custody since January of that year. Her accomplice, Matthew Jason Kroth, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kroth faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and up to 40 years for meth trafficking.
**Conclusion**
The sentencing of Caroline Joanne Herrling serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of financial crimes on vulnerable communities. Her actions not only caused immense pain to her victims and their loved ones but also resulted in tragic consequences. The justice system has spoken, holding Herrling accountable for her reprehensible deeds..
“West Hills woman steals millions in real estate assets in fraud scheme that involved disposing man’s body”
“Fraud scheme involving disposal of man’s body linked to West Hills woman stealing millions in real estate assets”.
