A breast cancer patient appeared in a San Diego courtroom Tuesday as a former friend who admitted to stealing thousands from her was sentenced.
Denise Ramirez, 29, a credit union loan officer for San Diego County Credit Union helped Evanthia Papeas open a bank account in San Diego in 2006 to accept donations for Papeas' treatment, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle. Papeas, a Sonoma County prosecutor, met Ramirez while she was living in San Diego, working for the county district attorney's office for nine months.
Papeas, whose mother had died from cancer, said she was diagnosed on her birthday.
"They told me that I didn't have much time. That it was a terminal diagnosis," she said.
Ramirez visited her the night of her diagnosis, Papeas said, and later found out that her friend began stealing from her that night. Papeas' Kaiser insurance did not cover the treatment she was receiving, and therefore, a lot of friends and strangers had donated to help.
Ramirez was arrested on Sept. 25 and in October admitted to stealing an estimated $80,000 to $90,000, according to the San Diego District Attorney's Office. She also pleaded guilty to identity theft.
"She was my friend. I cried in her arms. This was somebody that said they were praying for me and she knew that I needed the money," said Papeas.
Ramirez used the funds to buy airline tickets, cruise tickets, meals and a subscription to eHarmony.com, according to a postal inspection report.
"While I was sitting there worried if I'd live another day, she was traveling," she said.
Papeas, now 38 and in remission, spoke at the sentencing hearing.
"When people make a mistake, they stop after once or twice, but when I needed the money the most, the records show that she pulled out ten electric payments and $29,400 in the course of four weeks. What she did was she escalated her actions when she knew I needed the money the most. That's the opposite of remorse," she said.
Ramirez was sentenced to 365 days in jail and must pay back full restitution in exchange for her plea deal.
The judge said Ramirez has to come clean in 30 days with any other accounts she has not disclosed. Any other undisclosed information that comes up after that time could lead to more than three-years in prison.
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