Former Lower Bucks Police Officer Arrested For Theft By Deception Charges
by Alex Lloyd Gross
When neighbors saw a Langhorne Borough Officer at the home of a 76 year old woman, even parking his patrol car in her driveway multiple times, they began to get concerned. That officer, Carlito Cortez was doing more than neighborhood checks. He was trying to swindle her out of her estate, police said.
Cortez was an officer in Yardley from 2013 to 2023 and he served in Langhorne from 2026 until he quit in 2024 records show. Cortez was a part time officer for both departments. Detectives started to investigate after concerns rose about his involvement with a 76 year old woman. and the case went to a grand jury that returned an indictment.
Cortez is accused of misrepresenting a Last Will and Testament as a Power Of Attorney and convinced her to sign this back in 2022. He is also accused of taking two of her prior wills. Cortez first met the woman in 2020 when she called police for help after a relative did not repay her loan and she had discovered some of her rings were missing.
According to court documents, the woman developed a friendship with Cortez but soon noticed he was only nice to her when she was offering him something. At no time was the relationship sexual at all, authorities stressed. Cortez would do some home repairs and arranged for an unneeded home healthcare aide. That aide was in a relationship with Cortez, who was also married at the time, according to court records.
Cortez eventually would move into the woman’s house. While the woman was fine with Cortez being her medical Power Of Attorney, he wanted Financial Power Of Attorney as well. He even went with her to an attorney to discuss his relationship with her and her finances. Sensing something was wrong, the attorney called police and spoke with Chief John Godzieba, who told Cortez to not see or contact her anymore.He ignored that ordered, police said.
Cortez was charged with Theft By Deception, perjury, official oppression and related offenses. Cortez was released on $150,000 unsecured bond