Couple accused of stealing from his mom plead guilty

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DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man and his wife accused of stealing more than $200,000 from his disabled mother have pleaded guilty to federal charges.

The Telegraph Herald reports that Howard and Patti Derby recently entered the pleas to charges of wire fraud. The state charges were dropped after the federal charges were filed.

Federal records don’t list a sentencing date.

State court documents say his disabled mother moved in with the couple and that he had been given power of attorney for her finances and medical needs. The documents say the Derbys took money from her accounts and used it to buy cars and pay for vacations, among other things.