Two Defendants Sentenced in Multi-Year Financial Elder Abuse Scheme

Published on June 29, 2026

The Fresno County District Attorney's Office announced today that Gina Denise Abercrombie (52, of Pleasanton) and Justin Linder Teel (52, of Friant) were sentenced following their convictions in a sophisticated, three-year financial elder abuse scheme that targeted a vulnerable elder in Fresno County and resulted in the theft of more than $800,000 and the fraudulent acquisition of interests in property worth millions of dollars.

On May 19, 2026, following a three-month jury trial, Abercrombie and Teel were convicted of one felony count of Financial Elder Abuse and two felony counts of Theft by False Pretenses. The victim was Randall Jon Hansen (74, of Sanger).

Today, the Honorable Jonathan Conklin sentenced Abercrombie to five years of formal probation, 365 days in the Fresno County Jail, and imposed a 10-year criminal protective order prohibiting contact with the victim's daughter. Teel was sentenced to three years in state prison.

Judge Conklin found numerous aggravating factors applicable to both Abercrombie and Teel, including that the victim was particularly vulnerable; the crimes involved planning, sophistication, and professionalism; the offenses involved taking property of great monetary value; and the defendants abused a position of trust and confidence. The Court also found that Abercrombie induced others to participate in the commission of the crimes. As to Teel, Judge Conklin additionally found that he had previously served a prison term stemming from convictions for mortgage fraud, perjury, and welfare fraud.

Following the unexpected death of Mr. Hansen's wife in 2017 and while he was experiencing significant health challenges, Abercrombie and Teel exploited his grief and vulnerability to gain increasing control over his finances, estate planning, and valuable real estate holdings.

Evidence presented during the three-month trial established that Mr. Hansen owned numerous properties, including Sherwood Forest Mobile Home Park, a residence in Aptos, a home in Bass Lake, an almond ranch, and other real estate, as well as financial accounts collectively valued at more than $2.4 million.

Over approximately three years, Abercrombie - Mr. Hansen's stepdaughter - and Teel siphoned more than $800,000 from Mr. Hansen's financial accounts while systematically attempting to take control of his assets. Investigators uncovered forged documents, fraudulent deeds, unauthorized financial transactions, and other evidence demonstrating a sustained and sophisticated scheme to deprive Mr. Hansen of his property.

Among the fraudulent acts, the defendants incorporated Sherwood Forest Mobile Home Park without Mr. Hansen's knowledge and falsely identified Abercrombie as its owner. They also fraudulently obtained title to Mr. Hansen's Aptos residence, valued at approximately $3 million, by misrepresenting legal documents as refinancing paperwork when the documents transferred ownership of the property to Abercrombie.

During today's sentencing hearing, the victim's daughter, Stacy Hansen Dovali, described the profound impact the crimes had on her father and their family.

"These crimes don't just take money. They took away trust, dignity, peace, and, in our case, took away my Dad."

She also told the Court: "My father deserved kindness. Instead, he was betrayed when he needed protection the most."

"This case is a powerful reminder that elder abuse often happens behind closed doors and is frequently committed by individuals in positions of trust," said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. "Financial exploitation can strip older adults of their savings, independence, dignity, and peace of mind. During Elder Abuse Awareness Month and every month, we remain committed to protecting vulnerable adults, supporting victims and their families, and holding those who exploit them fully accountable."

Financial elder abuse often goes undetected because it is frequently committed by trusted family members, caregivers, or others in positions of confidence. Financial elder abuse is one of the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse and often occurs through manipulation, deception, coercion, and the exploitation of trust. The Fresno County District Attorney's Office encourages family members, caregivers, financial institutions, and community members to report suspected elder abuse so vulnerable adults can be protected before significant harm occurs.

A restitution hearing to determine the financial losses owed to the victim's estate is scheduled for September 4, 2026, in Department 72.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office extends its appreciation to its law enforcement and agency partners for their invaluable assistance throughout the investigation, including Fresno County Sheriff's Detective Skip Swain, California Department of Justice Special Agent Kim Sharp, and Josh Cochran of the Fresno County Public Guardian.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Lisa Urrizola.

The Fresno County District Attorney's Office also recognizes the tremendous efforts of Senior District Attorney Investigator Julie Skamel, former (now retired) District Attorney Investigators Teri Terry, Jared Amey, and Rod Lichti, and Law Clerk Lacey Phillips, whose dedication and years of work were instrumental in bringing this case to justice.

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