NURSE PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN THEFT : WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM ELDERLY PATIENTS.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Daily News Staff Writer

A home-care nurse accused of bilking thousands of dollars from her elderly and mentally disabled patients pleaded not guilty Monday to felony grand theft and burglary charges.

Elva Gomez, 40, of Valencia, was charged with four counts of grand theft of property valued at more than $400, four burglary counts, six counts of petty theft of a credit card with the intent to defraud, and conspiring to commit a crime, authorities said.

Her husband, Luis Atalo Gomez, pleaded not guilty Monday to three felony charges: petty theft of a credit card with the intent to defraud, burglary and conspiring to commit a crime.

A $100,000 bail was set for each of them, with a preliminary hearing set for March 17, Newhall Municipal Court officials said.

Elva Gomez ran a sophisticated five-year credit card scheme against at least 13 people she cared for, said Detective David Lingscheit of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station. She stole as much as $15,000 from one patient, he said.

Authorities said the nurse would notify credit card companies to change mailing addresses for accounts in her patients' names, rerouting them to one of several post office boxes she used.

Elva Gomez used cards to withdraw cash at automated teller machines or for purchases at Sears and the Robinsons-May department store in the Valencia Town Center, authorities said.

Many of the patients did not realize their cards were being charged, Lingscheit said.

A customer service representative became suspicious of Gomez's young-sounding voice over the phone on an account for an 86-year-old, authorities said.

The elderly victim's family was contacted and they called authorities in late January.

Authorities said Gomez provided in-home nursing care at American United Home Care in Santa Clarita, Staff Assistants in North Hills and Visiting Nurses in North Hollywood.