PHOENIX -- A Laveen resident has been indicted on 21 counts of fraud and theft for alleged power of attorney abuses concerning the financial affairs of a sick and elderly neighbor woman.

Peggy Moore, 67, was arraigned on Wednesday. She is charged with one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, 10 counts of theft and 10 counts of theft, unlawful use of power of attorney.

Moore befriended the victim after the death of her husband and is reported to have persuaded the victim to give her power of attorney to help in paying her bills and managing her finances, according to a Phoenix police probable cause statement.

Over several years, the victim's health deteriorated until October 2006 when she became mentally incompetent to understand what Moore was doing with her money, police said.

Moore allegedly quit-claimed the victim's home, valued at $172,000, into her own name through the use of power of attorney, according to the police statement.

Moore allegedly began withdrawing money from the victim's bank account and used the cash to pay her own bills and purchase a $33,000 Lincoln Navigator and $26,000 Mercedes Sedan, the statement said.

She later sold these cars at below market value and purchased a Lexus sports car, police said.

"Financial abuses of the elderly, as alleged in this case, will not be tolerated," said Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. "Our office will prosecute vigorously all charges of this nature."