A Dayton couple accused of bilking an elderly couple out of $250,000 in gold coins are being held in Douglas County Jail on $100,000 bail.
Sandra Gabriela Patino Saucedo, 47, and Francisco Javier Cruz, 48, are facing felonies of grand larceny against a person 60 years or older and conspiracy in connection with the case.
Prosecutor Jim Sibley argued that Patino Saucedo and Cruz were caregivers for the elderly couple.
He said when investigators went to their home near Sutro they found the house packed up and that they’d announced they were moving to Mexico.
“They’d refinanced the house stripping the equity and were in arrearage on the mortgage,” Sibley said in arguing for the high bail. “They’d liquidated all their assets to flee the country.”
Defense attorney Matthew Ence asked for an own recognizance release. He said conditions of GPS monitoring and giving up their passports would guarantee their return.
Sibley expressed concern that taking the couple’s passports would not prevent them from fleeing to Mexico.
“Those conditions do nothing to get them back from Mexico,” he said. “They don’t need a passport.”
Both were ordered to return to East Fork Justice Court 1:30 p.m. today with appointed counsel.
The thefts allegedly occurred between March 3, 2023, to Dec. 11, 2024.
