Convicted Swindler, 81, Charged in New Scheme

A grandmotherly 81-year-old Van Nuys woman who was convicted six years ago of attempting to swindle then-President Ronald Reagan is now charged with stealing a portion of an elderly neighbor’s life savings.

Ann Roberts, described by a prosecutor as looking “like anybody’s grandmother,” has a record of forgery convictions dating back to 1940, prosecutors said. She faces a preliminary hearing Feb. 9 on charges of grand theft.

Roberts is accused of bilking Mildred Hendricks, 74, out of $2,000 last June with tearful claims that she needed the money to buy a headstone for a recently deceased aunt, Deputy Dist. Atty. Andrew W. Diamond said. Hendricks told Los Angeles police that Roberts claimed she was worth $13 million and would repay the money and an additional $1,000 as soon as funds became available, Diamond said. Hendricks called police after Roberts’ $3,000 repayment check bounced, Diamond said.