SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — A former IRS agent and current tax Southern California tax professional was arrested last week and accused of running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded an elderly Santa Rosa woman of more than $1 million over seven years.
On Monday, Santa Rosa police identified the suspect as Elana Cohen-Roth, 77, of Marina Del Rey. Police said Cohen-Roth’s Ponzi scheme consisted of making interest payments to her investors/victims, while using incoming “investment” funds to allow for her lavish lifestyle.
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The victim initially reported the alleged fraud in December 2020, telling police she had entrusted a significant amount of funds to an acquaintance to invest on her behalf. The woman told police she met the suspect in 2012 through a mutual friend.
In January 2021. the department’s property crimes units obtained search warrants for the Marina Del Rey home of Elana Cohen-Roth, 77, as well as at her employer’s office in Los Angeles, seizing boxes of financial documents and correspondence. Tax attorney firm Mather Anderson currently lists Cohen-Roth on its website as an enrolled agent and tax return practitioner with 20 years of IRS experience including tax auditor, field agent and appeals officer.
Over the next 12 months, detectives served multiple search warrants, combed through additional documents and electronic communications, and interviewed additional…
