Danielle Hale Chief Economist | realtors.com
An expansive Malibu beach house has been listed for sale at $3.75 million. The property, previously owned by Dr. Mark Sawusch, became infamous after his death in 2018 and subsequent revelations of exploitation by Anthony Flores and Anna Moore.
Dr. Sawusch, a wealthy surgeon, passed away at the age of 57 due to accidental ketamine and alcohol intoxication over Memorial Day weekend in May 2018. Prosecutors alleged that Flores and Moore moved into his home under the pretense of caretaking for him while he struggled with bipolar disorder.
The couple was accused of defrauding Sawusch out of $2.7 million while living rent-free in his home and providing him with drugs such as marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and LSD. They reportedly watched Sawusch's final moments via security cameras from a hotel after being evicted during an LSD trip.
Flores pled guilty to multiple charges including wire fraud and money laundering, receiving a 16-year prison sentence in June this year. Moore also pled guilty to seven felony charges and is scheduled for sentencing on October 28.
Sawusch had met Flores and Moore at a vegan ice cream shop in Venice Beach in 2017. After becoming friends, they moved into his Malibu home under the guise of helping him manage his affairs when he was arrested.
Prosecutors allege that they isolated Sawusch from family and friends while transferring funds from his accounts into their own. In May 2018, they allegedly changed authentication details on his brokerage account worth $60 million while he was under the influence of LSD.
Following Sawusch’s death, legal action ensued when it emerged that significant sums had been transferred from his accounts to those controlled by Flores and Moore. An eviction lawsuit was filed against them by Carlos Sawusch, administrator of Dr. Sawusch’s estate.
The couple was eventually arrested by FBI agents in January 2023 for their fraudulent activities amounting to $2.7 million against Dr. Sawusch.
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