On Thursday, a Santa Barbara County Superior Court jury found private investigator Craig Case guilty on 63 criminal counts related to embezzling $690,000 from a former client.
The charges included elder theft, embezzlement, false tax filings, conspiracy, identity theft, money laundering, and grand theft of personal property.
The jurors also found all aggravating factors to be true, including that the victim was particularly vulnerable, the crime had sophisticated planning and preparation, that Case induced others to participate in the crime, that he was in a position of leadership in the crime, that a great monetary value was stolen, and that Case was in a position of trust or confidence over the victim.
The jury came to a quick decision. Closing arguments in the trial wrapped up Monday morning, and they deliberated on Monday afternoon and again Thursday morning before reaching a verdict.
Before his arrest in July 2023, Case appeared in his own self-produced television show, “The Inn Crowd.” He was a private investigator and a member of numerous local boards and commissions, including the Santa Barbara Police Foundation, Santa Barbara City College and United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County.
The victim of the theft was 94-year-old Constance McCormick Fearing, who died in 2022.
Nancy Coglizer, Fearing’s longtime assistant and bookkeeper, was accused of colluding with Case. She pleaded guilty last year to elder financial abuse and conspiracy to commit elder financial abuse.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that Case took advantage of Coglizer while she was grieving her mother and asked her if Fearing had any extra money for a short-term loan.
Case would then routinely ask Coglizer for a short-term loan, without making any effort to pay back the loans. Coglizer wrote 104 checks to Case amounting to $690,000 from October 2018 to April 2021.
Case’s defense attorney argued that all his client did was ask for a loan, which Coglizer gave him.
The jury found Case guilty of all counts except for one count of forgery of a concealed carry weapon permit. However, they did find him guilty of offering a false permit to an officer.
While investigating Case, officers found a loaded weapon in his trunk, according to authorities.
Throughout the six days of trial testimony, the jury heard from witnesses, including Coglizer, and subject matter experts including law enforcement investigator Eric Davis and Carl Knutson, a former special agent for the Internal Revenue Service.
Case and Coglizer are scheduled for sentencing on April 8.
