Former assisted living facility manager charged with theft from residents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The former manager of an assisted living facility in Nashville has been jailed for allegedly stealing money from two of the facility residents.

Katie Esparza, 36, of Columbia, was arrested Tuesday night in Maury County, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department, for reportedly stealing thousands of dollars from two residents of Sapphire of Music City, where she was previously a manager.

According to a release from MNPD, Esparza worked at the facility from April 2023 until August of this year. Two residents of the facility in memory care, aged 72 and 75, gave control of their debit cards to Esparza for payment of monthly rent expenses, police said.

Esparza reportedly resigned after being asked by Sapphire’s new director to provide an accounting of patient finances.A subsequent audit and investigation by the MNPD Fraud Unit showed that Esparza used the 75-year-old victim’s card and banking information to initiate 35 separate Venmo transactions totaling $17,610 from his account to his personal account. Subpoenaed Venmo records also revealed that Esparza attempted 135 cash withdrawals totaling $77,220 from the 75-year-old’s account, but those attempted transactions were rejected.

Esparza is also accused of using his card without authorization on 18 occasions to cover $899 in her personal expenses, police said.

The investigation also led to video evidence showing that Esparza used the 72-year-old victim’s debit card to withdraw $1,500 from an ATM without authorization.

Police said Esparza is charged with money laundering, theft, financial exploitation, credit card fraud, computer fraud, and identity theft.

Esparza is jailed in lieu of a $410,000 bond, according to MNPD.