Former Bucks County Police Officer arrested for estate fraud scheme

(WPHL) — A Bucks County Police officer has been arrested after he allegedly deceived an elderly woman into signing her last will and testament in an attempt to gain control of her more than $500,000 estate.

Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn announced charges against 59-year-old Carlito Cortez, who worked part-time for both the Langhorne Borough Police Department and the Yardley Borough Police Department.

According to the DA, Cortez surrendered to authorities on May 13, after the Bucks County 21st Investigating Grand Jury recommended charges against Cortez for criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, securing execution of documents by deception, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, false swearing, perjury, and official oppression.

Cortez was sentenced on a bail of $150,000 unsecured, which he posted. Cortez was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Prior to his arrest, Cortez worked as a part-time officer for the Yardley Borough Police Department from 2013 to 2023 and as a part-time officer for the Langhorne Borough Police Department for eight years.

He resigned from Langhorne in the fall, said DA Schorn.

According to the investigation, Cortez, who is married, began a relationship with the 76-year-old female victim and was able to obtain her signature on a last will and testament, which he falsely presented as a power of attorney document.

Cortez met the woman during his time as a Langhorne police officer when he was tasked to investigate the March 2020 theft of two rings valued at $25,000 from her home safe. The rings were never found, and no charges were filed in the theft.

Despite no new leads in the investigation, Cortez continued to visit the victim, and their relationship evolved over three years.

A witness had told police that Cortez’s vehicle would be at the victim’s residence several nights, often into the morning.

During this period, the victim told police that she fell in love with Cortez, who only reciprocated verbally when she did things for him.

“She also indicated their relationship was not sexually intimate,” said the DA.

As Cortez was working as a contractor during this time, he offered to do home repairs for the victim, but most projects were left unfinished.

At the end of 2022, Cortez was able to talk the victim into getting in-home nursing care and “arranged for a woman with whom he was also having an affair to become her caretaker”, said the DA.

The victim paid her $2,900 over a period of four months before the victim told her that she no longer needed her services.

The investigation later revealed that this woman was not a nurse or a licensed or insured caregiver.

During this time, Cortez also began discussing the possibility of him becoming the victim’s power of attorney.

The victim and Cortez allegedly had multiple conversations about this, and Cortez enlisted a friend to vouch for him.

The DA says Cortez’s friend had contacted the victim, describing Cortez as a trustworthy family man.

Cortez then presented the victim with documents he had printed online for her signature.

The victim had explicitly told Cortez that she was interested in granting Cortez medical power of attorney, but not financial power of attorney or the beneficiary of her estate, said the DA.

After signing the papers, the victim noticed the words “last will and testament.”

Cortez rushed off and told the victim that he would send her a copy, but never did.

In May 2023, Cortez moved into the victim’s home for a few weeks, keeping his personal belongings, including his police uniforms and equipment, at her home.

He would also return to his home in Richboro, where he lived with his wife.

In October 2024, during a search of Cortez’s Richboro home, police found two older wills and testaments belonging to the victim, which she stated she had not authorized him to possess.

When questioned about the recently signed last will and testament, the victim told police that Cortez had fraudulently induced her to sign it and provided inconsistent information regarding its whereabouts.

The DA says, during Cortez’s testimony before the Grand Jury, he lied about the victim’s wills and what happened to the newly signed will.

According to Pennsylvania court records, Cortez will be seen before a judge for his preliminary hearing on May 28.