The former manager of an Oklahoma City nursing home has been sentenced for stealing more than $130,000 from three residents of the facility.

Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy Truong sentenced Amy Gustina Klimkowski, 45, to 20 years in prison for conviction of three felony counts of financial exploitation of an elderly adult, eight felony counts of obtaining money by false pretenses (exceeding $1,000), and two misdemeanor counts of obtaining money by false pretenses (less than $500). Klimkowski was sentenced to 10 years in prison for each of nine counts; she was sentenced to one year in prison for each of four remaining counts. Judge Truong ordered some sentences to run concurrently and others to run consecutively, effectively sentencing the woman to 20 years in prison. Klimkowski must also pay $124,111 in restitution.

Klimkowski is the former business manager of the Windsor Hills Nursing Center in Oklahoma City. As business manager, she had access to residents' personal records and accounts. Prosecutors said that Klimkowki began stealing from the facility's residents as early as July 2010; she was charged in May 2015.

During that span of time, Klimkowski took funds from three elderly residents, including nearly $100,000 from one woman's accounts and nearly $30,000 from another. She was also accused of taking more than $10,000 from a resident trust account.

The former business manager pleaded guilty in March to all charges, saying that the money was largely used to finance a gambling addiction. In entering her plea, Klimkowski said she was undergoing treatment for compulsive gambling disorder.

Oklahoma law defines elder abuse and financial exploitation of the elderly and prescribes punishment in 21 O.S. § 843.1- 843.4.

According to 21 O.S. § 843.4 financial exploitation of the elderly is a felony. Its potential penalties depend upon the amount taken from the elderly or disabled adult:

• Less than $100,000 - maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000
• $100,000 or more - maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000

Learn more about Oklahoma's elder abuse laws here.

Image credit: Ulrich Joho