Since 2006, the women allegedly stole over $2 million from at least 10 elderly victims - and of those 10 victims, only one is still alive.
Acting Attorney General, John J. Hoffman held a press conference in Voorhees Thursday morning and explained, "We are supposed to honor our elders - but these women heartlessly exploited them."
Barbara Lieberman, a prominent 62-year-old elder law attorney from Northfield, and Jan Van Holt, a 57-year-old owner of an in-home senior care company from Linwood, were arrested on charges that they conspired to prey on elderly clients and steal their life savings.
Hoffman explained, "These defendants simply bled these victims dry."
Officials say the defendants targeted senior citizens with substantial assets, who typically didn't have any immediate family, and would offer them non-medical care, including financial and legal services.
The women then allegedly took control of their victim's finances by forging a power of attorney. Officials say the accused women added their names to the victims’ bank accounts, or transferred funds into new accounts.
"The amount that the defendants stole is truly shocking. They allegedly stole close to half a million just from this one Margate couple. And Lieberman allegedly stole more than $600,000 from another Margate resident - a woman who was in her 90s," e90'sained Hoffman.
NBC40 talked to a man who identified himself as Van Holt's son, who says his mom is innocent, and blamed Lieberman for his mother's incarceration.
Eddie Van Holt said, "My mom has not stolen any money from them. It's Barbara who has done the wills and stuff. My mom was only paid for her services…She would always choose clients who had no family."
But officials say both women allegedly referred clients to each other, and used the trust gained with their clients to ultimately, steal their life savings…a scheme that had been going on for years.
"What they did was nothing short of evil - even stealing from these victims after they had passed away," said Hoffman.
Van Holt’s sister, 58-year-old Sondra Steen of Linwood, and a former employee 55-year-old Susan Hamlett of Egg Harbor Township, who worked for them as an aid for elderly clients, were also arrested and charged in the case. These two women were charged with second-degree theft by deception.
Full Article & Source:
Atlantic Co. lawyer, owner of senior care company charged with stealing millions from elderly clients
See Also:
Women from Northfield, Linwood accused of stealing assets of elderly
4 comments:
The lawyer should get big time!
It's about time authorities started breaking up these crime rings posing as elder law practices. Where were the judges and commissioners of account while this was happening?
I hope she does!
Life in prison with no parole these people are a danger to society with no hope of rehabilitation.
I guarantee you this is one example of others who aren't as outwardly greedy. It's so easy to target wealthy single elders and vulnerable couples extracting information from them about their finances listening for clues: traveling, cruises, 2nd residences and family relationships, family dynamics, friends, neighbors.
Then the predators select the best $ targets and they swoop in like vultures.
And while I'm at it:
Beware of FREE LUNCHES AND DINNERS with estate planners, financial advisors, probate attorneys, angelic sounding 'care' company's who will require information from you prior to your FREE MEAL.
People go thinking they will be ok not giving up information that could be risky.
Keep in mind it's a good bet there are PLANTS at the tables listening to YOUR chit chat with others at your table with eye on $, compiling information on which $ target has no immediate family or others who could be watching out for the well being of the elderly person or couple with $.
I could write volumes but that's for another time. Remember scouts and headhunters are everywhere including the trusted Meals On Wheels delivery system.
Anyone who gains entry into the elders personal life and residence is suspect to turn that person or couple over to be 'protected' by probate lawyer or government agency who's goal is to establish a guardianship whether it's needed or not it's all about the billing and jobs for that agency.
Many scouts and headhunters receive a cash $ kick back for every potential guardianship case.
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