Fmr. cop accused of trying to swindle 76-year-old Bucks County woman out of her $500,000 estate

LANGHORNE, Pa. (WPVI) -- A now-former police officer is accused of trying to gain control of a 76-year-old woman's half-million-dollar estate.

The Bucks County district attorney says the alleged actions of 59-year-old Carlito Cortez of Richboro were predatory and exploitative.

Authorities say Cortez worked as a part-time Langhorne Borough Police officer for about eight years. He also worked for the Yardley Police Department as a part-time officer.

He was called to investigate a theft from a residence in May of 2020.

The victim, who lives in Langhorne, told Cortez that two rings valued at $25,000 were missing from her collection of antique jewelry.

"He learned about her wealth and her assets that she possessed. But he also gained insight into her vulnerability," said Bucks County D.A. Jennifer Schorn.

From there, authorities say Cortez befriended the victim, eventually getting her to fall in love with him.

He offered to do jobs around her house and allegedly hired an unqualified woman he was having an affair with to be her in-home nurse.

Cortez was noticed by a neighbor who alerted authorities.

"I mean, he was staying at her home, arriving in a patrol car and a police uniform day in and day out. Pretty brazen," she said.

After a period of time, he allegedly obtained the victim's signature on a last will and testament, which he falsely presented as a power of attorney document.

"His end goal was to become the designated recipient of her estate. He succeeded when he surreptitiously had her sign a document she believed to be a medical power of attorney, when in fact it was a fraudulent last will and testament," said D.A. Jennifer Schorn.

Schorn went on to say a search of Cortez's home turned up the woman's original last will and testament, in which she left her estate to her family.

The D.A. says the Langhorne Police Department has been fully cooperative in the investigation, calling Cortez's alleged actions "a blemish on the profession" of law enforcement.

There was no answer at his home on Wednesday.

Cortez was arraigned on Tuesday and released on $150,000 unsecured bail. He's been ordered to have no contact with the victim while he's awaiting trial.

In a statement, Langhorne Borough Police Dept. Chief John Godzieba said:

"When the Bucks County District Attorney's Office advised me of the investigation in late October 2024, Cortez was immediately removed from the patrol schedule. He submitted his resignation on December 2, 2024. As a part-time officer, he only worked 1 day a week for Langhorne Borough. We cooperated fully with the Bucks County District Attorney's Office during their investigation and praise them for the work that they and the members of the grand jury put into this very unfortunate situation. No one deserves to be preyed upon, especially by someone whose job is it to protect them from the predators."