Woman sentenced to probation in theft from organization for the elderly

The former president of the Senior Services Network was sentenced Monday to probation for using $1,200 from the charitable organization to pay her own bills.

Ramona Hayes, 31, will spend the next three years on probation for three felony counts of embezzlement and a gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit forgery. She must also pay full restitution.

She was given a suspended sentence of 12 to 32 months in prison on the felony charges and 12 months in prison for the gross misdemeanor.

The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

According to court records, the embezzlement charges came about because Hayes asked Senior Services Network issue checks to pay bills of needy seniors, but instead used the checks to pay her personal utility and veterinary bills.

An arrest warrant was issued Aug. 29 on the embezzlement charge, and Hayes was arrested.

The forgery charge came to light last year when a Reno construction firm told the Attorney General's Office that Hayes had contacted it about building a senior center in south Reno.

According to the firm, Hayes presented a letter from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, indicating the foundation had awarded a grant to Homemaker Services to build the senior center.

Hayes used the letter to persuade architectural and building firms to provide services to Hayes' organization, when in fact there was no grant from the foundation, according to the Attorney General's Office.