A former couple convicted of defrauding the late owner of Sanger’s Sherwood Forest Golf Club has been sentenced in Fresno County.
Justin Teel will serve three years in custody, while his former fiancée, Gina Abercrombie, will serve one year, according to ABC30.
Prosecutors said Abercrombie acted as the “puppet master” and directed more than $800,000 to be stolen from her stepfather, Randy Hansen.
The sentences followed a months-long trial in a case tied to Hansen, who owned and operated Sherwood Forest Golf Club before his death in 2020.
The Case Centered On Randy Hansen’s Money
Prosecutors said Abercrombie and Teel took advantage of Hansen over a period of nearly 1,000 days. Fresno County prosecutor Lisa Urrizola described them in court as sophisticated criminals and said Hansen was exploited while he was vulnerable.
Earlier ABC30 coverage reported that a jury convicted Abercrombie and Teel on financial abuse and identity theft charges after prosecutors said the evidence showed more than $800,000 was stolen from Hansen between 2017 and 2022.
KMPH reported, citing the district attorney’s office, that the scheme targeted a vulnerable Fresno County man and involved more than $800,000 taken from Hansen’s financial accounts, along with efforts to gain control of assets worth millions of dollars.
Prosecutors Said The Scheme Used His Name And Property
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ABC30 reported that the trial included claims that Abercrombie and Teel impersonated Hansen before he died in 2020 and applied for business loans in his name. Prosecutors said the conduct continued into 2022.
KMPH reported that prosecutors described forged documents, fraudulent deeds, unauthorized financial transactions, and efforts to take control of Hansen’s real estate holdings. Those holdings included Sherwood Forest Mobile Home Park, an Aptos residence, a Bass Lake home, an almond ranch, and other property, according to the station.
The district attorney’s office said the defendants incorporated Sherwood Forest Mobile Home Park without Hansen’s knowledge and falsely identified Abercrombie as its owner, KMPH reported. Prosecutors also said they fraudulently obtained title to Hansen’s Aptos residence, valued at about $3 million, by misrepresenting transfer documents as refinancing paperwork.
The Trial Lasted More Than Eight Weeks
The sentencing came after a high-profile trial that lasted for months. ABC30 reported that attorneys argued the case for more than eight weeks while jurors heard evidence.
The defense disputed the accusations during trial. Earlier ABC30 coverage reported that one defense attorney responded to prosecutors’ opening statements by saying, “Theft, attempted theft, no.”
The jury found both defendants guilty of one felony count of financial elder abuse and two felony counts of theft by false pretenses, according to KMPH.
Jailhouse Calls Became Part Of Sentencing
Hansen’s daughter, Stacy Hansen, told the court she does not feel safe and fears for her life after recent jailhouse calls from Abercrombie, according to ABC30.
In one call cited by the station, Abercrombie said Stacy had lied and that “we should all retaliate against her.” In another, she said that if she suffered, Stacy would suffer.
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Conklin appeared to condemn the calls but said he was influenced by numerous letters of support for Abercrombie when deciding on a lesser sentence, ABC30 reported.
The Judge Imposed Different Sentences
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ABC30 reported that Teel will serve three years in custody and Abercrombie will serve one year. The station reported that both sentences will be served at the Fresno County Jail.
KMPH, citing the district attorney’s office, reported that Abercrombie was ordered to serve five years of formal probation and 365 days in the Fresno County Jail. The station also reported that the judge imposed a 10-year criminal protective order prohibiting contact with Hansen’s daughter.
KMPH reported that Teel was sentenced to three years in state prison and had previously served a prison term from convictions for mortgage fraud, perjury, and welfare fraud.
Urrizola disagreed with Abercrombie’s sentence in court, according to ABC30. She said that if someone steals from another person for three years, the sentence should also be three years.
A Restitution Hearing Is Still Ahead
KMPH reported that a restitution hearing to determine the financial losses owed to Hansen’s estate is scheduled for Sept. 4, 2026.
The hearing leaves one major financial issue unresolved after sentencing: how much the defendants may ultimately be ordered to repay to the victim’s estate.
How Families Can Spot Financial Elder Abuse
The case also shows why families should pay attention when an older relative’s finances, property, or estate documents begin changing quickly after illness, grief, isolation, or the death of a spouse.
The U.S. Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative warns that financial exploitation can involve family members, close friends, neighbors, caregivers, fiduciaries, professionals, or strangers who misuse an older person’s money, property, or assets.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency lists warning signs such as unexplained withdrawals, sudden changes in financial situations, missing belongings, unusual changes in wills or powers of attorney, and suspicious signatures on checks or documents.
Families should watch for new loans, deeds, trusts, powers of attorney, property transfers, business filings, or account changes that the older person does not understand or cannot explain clearly. Isolation from longtime relatives, sudden dependence on one person, unpaid bills despite available assets, and pressure to sign documents quickly should also be treated as warning signs.
If financial exploitation is suspected, families should save bank records, deeds, loan documents, emails, texts, medical records, and names of people involved. They can contact Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, the older person’s bank, an elder-law attorney, or the state attorney general’s office before more property or money is moved.