Man Accused Of Swindling Ailing Mother Out Of Nearly $500,000

A Springfield man is accused of gaining control of his mother’s bank account and liquidating a certificate of deposit worth more than $482,000. 

Calvert L. Hutcheson, born 1952, was charged in Crawford County on Friday with the financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person. The charge is classified as a class A felony.

Court documents say the victim, a former Crawford County resident, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. 

On Nov. 21, 2022, the victim executed a power of attorney at Maries County Bank in Cuba, naming Hutcheson as her attorney-in-fact.

Less than a month later, Hutcheson was given power of attorney over the victim’s account at Sullivan Bank.

Around March 6, 2023, Hutcheson removed more than $464,000 from the victim’s checking account at Peoples Bank, then cashed out $482,467.98 from a certificate of deposit at Sullvan Bank.

The victim also paid nearly $45,000 for an early withdraw penalty.

Three days later, Hutcheson’s two siblings were appointed as co-guardians and co-conservators for the victim.

One of the siblings canceled the $464,000 transfer from the victim’s bank account, but was unsuccessful canceling the certificate of deposit.

The money was transferred from the victim’s bank account to a Bank of America account in Springfield, where Hutcheson is believed to reside.

In a petition for fraud, the plaintiffs, which include the victim and two of the siblings, allege that Hutcheson has used credit cards in the victim’s name and was in possession of the money from the certificate of deposit.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services began investigating the case in December 2022. Court records show that the victim’s symptoms have worsened over the years and that Hutcheson took advantage of her condition to grant himself power of attorney.

Hutcheson’s account at Bank of America in May 2023 showed a balance of $28,470.75. 

Over an 86-day period, Hutcheson made financial transactions of approximately $453,997.23.

A criminal summons was issued for Hutcheson.