Ind. Woman Accused of Stealing Soldier Son’s Insurance Charged Again

July 31, 2007

A Portage, Ind., woman who had pleaded guilty to stealing $250,000 in life insurance money after her son died in Iraq was scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 17.

Janie Lee Espinoza’s son, Army Spc. Roy Buckley, died April 22, 2003, after falling from a transport truck.

Most of what remains of the money was brought to Porter Superior Court on July 27.

Defense attorney Garry Weiss handed prosecutors a deed to a Florida time share, as well as a worn brown envelope containing an estimated $10,000 in jewelry.

Espinoza, 58, asked the court for mercy, saying she regrets her actions and wishes she could turn back the clock. Judge Bill Alexa moved the sentencing date back.

Maria Schavey, whose 10-year-old daughter was to have received the insurance money, was unhappy with the delay. She told the court that Espinoza ignored her son’s final wishes by spending the insurance money rather than saving it for his daughter.

“She has absolutely no shame,” Schavey said following the hearing. “She’s trying to use the death of her son as an excuse for the crime she committed.”

Information from: The Times, http://nwitimes.com.

Topics Fraud

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Latest Comments

  • July 31, 2007 at 2:35 am
    Anon says:
    It sounds to me that a trust of some type was the beneficiary since the money was supposed to be saved for his daughter. The mother was probably executor of the trust because ... read more
  • July 31, 2007 at 2:15 am
    Big Mike In CALI says:
    What gives? What was the woman charged with? All I can see in the article is that her sentencing date for the original conviction was delayed; nowhere does it make mention of ... read more
  • July 31, 2007 at 2:14 am
    Ray says:
    This just points up the necessity of ensuring your will is up-to-date and for ensuring that the beneficiary on the insurance policy is who you want to get the money. We don't ... read more

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