Venango County Woman Accused of Stealing Over $117,000 From Elderly Care-Dependent Woman

The victim’s checking account recorded 156 ATM withdrawals from October 2023 until July 2024 totaling $101,150.00.

by Jacob Deemer

VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — A Venango County woman was arrested on Friday after an investigation revealed she stole over $117,000.00 from an elderly care-dependent woman.

According to court records, the Franklin Police Department filed the following criminal charges against 53-year-old Kimberly S. Ace, of Franklin, in District Judge Sue Haggerty’s office on September 5: 

• Financial Exploitation of Older Adult or Care Dependent Person, Felony 2
• Theft By Failure To Make Required Disposition of Funds, Felony 2
• Theft By Deception-False Impression, Felony 2
• Misapply Entrusted/Government/Financial Institution Property, Misdemeanor 2

According to a criminal complaint, Franklin Police were assigned a case of a possible theft from a care-dependent person reported on July 17 by the Venango County Area Agency on Aging.

It was reported that a known bank issued a notification that large sums of money had been transferred from the victim’s account to another bank account. The bank listed Kimberly Ace as the Power of Attorney over the victim’s accounts. Bank representatives then provided the victim’s banking statements from October 2023 until present, where it was reported three large monetary transactions were made from the victim’s account to another bank account, the complaint states.

During the investigation, Franklin Police interviewed the victim and advised her of the incident.

The victim stated that she and Ace went to an attorney for help with Power of Attorney documents. She advised that she signed over Power of Attorney to Ace in May 2023, and Ace was authorized to pay her bills and buy her food; however, Ace was not authorized to take large sums of money from her bank accounts, according to the complaint.

Police did not observe any possessions or upgrades within the victim’s residence that would indicate the money removed from the victim’s bank accounts was made for the victim’s benefit. The victim denied receiving any new items or currency from Ace, the complaint notes.

While speaking with the victim, Ace entered the victim’s residence, asking if everything was okay. An officer told Ace that everything was fine, at which point Ace said that police were “probably there for her,” the complaint indicates.

Ace then told police she had “mishandled” some of the victim’s money and that she had already signed Power of Attorney back over to a known attorney, the complaint continues.

The known attorney confirmed to police that he currently has Power of Attorney as the victim signed it over to him. The attorney also provided police with a document showing Ace listed as Power of Attorney over the victim’s finances starting on May 12, 2023, the complaint states.

Search warrants for Ace and the victim’s bank accounts were granted. The warrants showed the victim’s checking account, opened in October 2023, recorded 156 ATM withdrawals from October 2023 until July 2024, totaling $101,150.00, the complaint indicates.

The victim’s money market account recorded eight withdrawals totaling $16,242.00 from October 2023 until December 2023 and were endorsed by “Kimberly Ace POA,” according to the complaint.

The total amount stolen is $117,392.00, the complaint notes.

Ace was arraigned at 1:45 p.m. on September 6 in front of District Judge Patrick Lowrey.

She was released on $5,000.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 25, at 10:30 a.m., in Venango County Central Court. 

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Venango County Woman Accused of Stealing Over $117,000 From Elderly Care-Dependent Woman