Virginia man accused of arranging marriage, taking advantage of victim with 'diminished mental capacity'
04/01/2019 9:36 pm PDT
By Margaret Kavanagh, WTKR
VIRGINIA BEACH (WTKR) -- A Virginia Beach man is accused of orchestrating a scheme that took advantage of another man with "diminished mental capacity," according to federal authorities.
John Michael Gatchell, 55, was charged with one count of mail fraud.
Records say Gatchell allegedly persuaded a woman with whom he had a long-term romantic relationship to marry another man who had diminished mental capacity in order to obtain money and property from him.
The alleged scheme took place from October 2015 until September 2016.
The suspect is accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars by getting the victim to co-sign a loan for a Jaguar and take out money for mortgage loans, among other ways.
Court documents say after the victim gave his wife money, she then allegedly funneled it to the suspect.
Records state the marriage was later annulled on the basis that the victim lacked the ability to consent to it because of his mental state.
