Men charged with 'account takeover' elder abuse scheme
Police say surveillance cameras caught Lawrence Fabiani and Eddie Cheung trying to "acquire power of attorney and take over" a man's account.
Two men are facing felonies after trying to take over the bank account of a Berkeley man with Alzheimer's disease, according to court papers.
Police say surveillance cameras caught Lawrence Fabiani and Eddie Cheung inside the San Leandro Patelco in late December trying to "acquire power of attorney and take over the account."
The men managed to make off with a $6,600 cashier's check and "left with the power of attorney paperwork," Berkeley police wrote in court papers.
On Jan. 2, police say Fabiani went to another Patelco branch and tried unsuccessfully to withdraw $40,000 from the man's account.
The same day, Cheung went back to Patelco with the power of attorney paperwork to "complete an account takeover," police wrote.
"He was fidgeting and nervous throughout the encounter," according to court papers.
"The banker became suspicious," police wrote, and was able to determine by phone that the man in the bank did not have anyone's permission to take on power of attorney.
On March 11, Adult Protective Services contacted the Berkeley Police Department after turning up a $25,000 check, with a forged signature, that was drawn against the victim's account.
Police say Cheung and Fabiani also tried to take over the man's Fidelity accounts, and that authorities found a separate bank account linked to those accounts that had been opened in his name without his permission.
In addition to raising the suspicions of bank authorities and APS, the mother of Fabiani's friend also reported him, police wrote.
When Fabiani showed up one day for a surprise visit to her son, two California IDs fell out of his pocket, police wrote.
His friend's mother noticed that one of the IDs had Fabiani's photograph — but another man's name on it.
It turned out to be the Berkeley resident with Alzheimer's disease, police wrote.
The woman took pictures of both IDs and made a report to the Alameda County DA's office.
In March, the DA's office charged Cheung with theft from an elder, grand theft of personal property, identity theft and obtaining money by false pretenses on Dec. 29, 2025; and identity theft and obtaining money by false pretenses on Jan. 2.
Fabiani was charged with theft from an elder, grand theft, identity theft and attempted obtaining money by false pretenses on Dec. 29.
Both men have denied the allegations.
Cheung's felony convictions date back to 2010 and include two robberies, grand theft, vehicle theft, and battery with serious bodily injury.
Fabiani's convictions date back to 2009 and include several counts of vehicle theft, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and felony evasion, among many other arrests.
According to court records, Cheung was released on $25,000 bail and Fabiani on $10,000 bail, both last month.
Public records show that Cheung was already arrested again, last week in Alameda, on gun possession allegations. Police said he had two rifles in his back seat when officers pulled him over.
No charges have been filed in that case and Cheung does not appear to be in custody, according to available records.
Both men are set to return to court in the elder theft case April 17 for a pretrial hearing.
The Scanner has requested their booking photographs from BPD and will update this story when they are provided.
