Michael Mendenhall accused of shaking down elderly clients for more than $1 million

The $1 million-plus allegedly swiped from clients by Michael Mendenhall can't compare to the $71 million allegedly stolen by Ponzi schemer Sean Mueller. But Mueller pleaded guilty to ripping off the likes of John Elway, while Mendenhall is accused of stealing from elderly people of much more modest means...

By Michael Roberts

November 18, 2010

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The $1 million-plus allegedly swiped from clients by Michael Mendenhall can't compare to the $71 million allegedly stolen by Ponzi schemer Sean Mueller.

But Mueller pleaded guilty to ripping off the likes of John Elway, while Mendenhall is accused of stealing from elderly people of much more modest means.

The Michael Mendenhall arrest affidavit includes the story of a Rapid City, South Dakota man described as a widower whose wife passed away two years earlier. A high school grad, he'd worked for a telephone company for a dozen years before serving as a union representative until his retirement.

Upon his wife's passing, the man contacted Mendenhall about a $62,000 annuity the couple had purchased together. He wanted to split it between his wife's two children and him, but Mendenhall talked him into giving him a ninety-day loan of $61,500 to invest in a real estate deal. In the end, the document says Mendenhall only returned $10,000 of that total but wrote a promissory note for the remainder.

Wonder how much that's worth now...

Look below to see Mendenhall's mug shot, as well as the entire arrest affidavit and a news release from the Denver District Attorney's Office:

Denver District Attorney's Office release:

MAN CHARGED IN THEFT FROM ELDERLY

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has formally charged a former insurance salesman accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from elderly victims.

Michael Mendenhall (dob: 06-18-63) is charged with three counts of theft from an at-risk adult (F3).

The charges allege that Mendenhall took money from elderly victims and signed promissory notes saying the money would be used for real estate acquisition but used the money for his own personal gain instead.

The investigation is continuing and additional victims and charges are possible. Losses to victims are estimated to exceed $1,000,000.

Mendenhall was arrested last Friday, November 12, 2010, and remains in custody in the Denver Detention Center; his bond is set at $500,000. He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom 2100 on November 17, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. to be formally advised of the charges.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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