Tree trimmer arrested again, accused of swindling Gwinnett seniors | WSB-TV

A 30-year-old tree trimmer who allegedly targets elderly homeowners is back behind bars after turning himself in on new theft charges. 

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Tree trimmer arrested again, accused of swindling Gwinnett seniors | WSB-TV 

Pelham man accused of stealing more than $200K from elderly relatives

by The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

A 37-year-old Pelham man is accused of impersonating state and federal officials as part of a scheme to financially exploit his elderly relatives, state officials said.

A Hillsborough County Southern District grand jury indicted Jason Taylor on felony counts of financial exploitation of an elderly adult and theft by deception, according to a written news release from New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella.

Between April 2019 and October 2024, Taylor “used undue influence, coercion, and deception to obtain more than $200,000 from” his elderly aunt and uncle, officials said.

“As part of the scheme, Mr. Taylor allegedly convinced his relatives that they were required to make payments in connection with a nonexistent court case. To support this lie, he created fraudulent court documents and impersonated multiple officials — including United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts,” according to the AG’s release.

Taylor is also accused of fabricating documents demanding payments and threatening legal consequences. Officials said he also told the victims they were subject to a “gag order” preventing them from speaking about the case.

If convicted, Taylor faces up to 7½ to 15 years in state prison and a $4,000 fine for each charge. Taylor is scheduled to be arraigned on July 10.

If you or someone you know is a victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, contact your local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, at 800-949-0470. 

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Pelham man accused of stealing more than $200K from elderly relatives 

Former General Manager of The Foundry Restaurant Pleads Guilty to Multiple Felony Theft Charges

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that James Peretti, the former general manager of The Foundry Restaurant (Foundry), located in Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in Hillsborough Superior Court Northern District today to two felony theft charges stemming from his tenure at the Foundry.

In March of 2024, Peretti was charged with a class A felony count of Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer which alleged that he, pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, stole from the Foundry across nearly the entirety of his four-year tenure as general manager by generating fraudulent reimbursement claims and using the reimbursement claims as a basis to take cash he was not entitled to.

In June 2024, Peretti was charged with a separate class A felony count of Theft by Deception which alleged that he, pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, also stole from the Foundry by falsifying an employee’s clock-in entries to make it appear the employee worked hours he actually did not, diverting paychecks reflecting the falsified hours away from the employee, depositing the paychecks into a bank account over which the employee had no control, and spending the resulting proceeds on items unrelated to the Foundry or the employee.

Peretti’s guilty pleas were entered pursuant to a capped plea agreement.  As part of the plea agreement, he has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $150,633 to the Foundry.  At a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 23, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in Hillsborough Superior Court Northern District, the State will argue that Peretti should be sentenced to 2 to 4 years in the State Prison on the Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer charge.  

On the Theft by Deception charge, Peretti will be sentenced to 7 ½ to 15 years in the State Prison, all of which will be suspended for a period of 15 years.  The suspended sentence will run concurrently with the sentence on the Theft by Unauthorized Taking charge.    

This case was investigated by Investigator Fred Lulka of the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau and is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Zach Frish, also of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau, as well as Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, of the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit.

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Former General Manager of The Foundry Restaurant Pleads Guilty to Multiple Felony Theft Charges

Stevens woman stole over $800,000 from grandfather: police

by NATHAN WILLISON

West Earl Township police have charged a Stevens woman with deceiving her grandfather out of $810,750 in 2022 after being given access to his finances. 

Sarah F. Shanely, 39, is charged with felony counts of financial exploitation of an older adult and theft by deception after police say she became controlling of her grandfather’s estate planning. 

According to charging documents, after the death of her grandmother, Shanely was one of three people given power of attorney for her grandfather. Her grandfather was in his 80s and was under emotional distress from the death of his wife and was suffering from an injury after a fall.

Police say it was determined during an estate planning meeting that $15,000 to $18,000 would be gifted to family members to shield it from taxation. 

After learning from an attorney there was no limit on the amount that could be gifted, police say Shanely told her grandfather he should gift $200,000 to each of his three grandchildren. However, he told her he did not want to distribute that much as he also wanted to leave money to his two sons. 

According to an affidavit, in July 2022 Shanely wrote four checks from her grandfather’s bank  for $200,000 each. That same month, Shanely issued a payment of $10,750 from her grandfather's bank account to a private school her son attends. Police say the grandfather did not authorize the transaction. 

Police say the grandfather, along with the two other people serving as powers of attorney, repeatedly asked for the money to be returned due to confusion over what he was signing, but Shanely refused to return the money. 

Investigators concluded Shanely did not act in her grandfather’s best financial interest. An attorney representing Shanely did not return a request for comment Saturday. 

Shanely was released on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2025. 

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Stevens woman stole over $800,000 from grandfather: police

Mother, father and caregiver charged after Pennsylvania 21-year-old with cerebral palsy dies of starvation

By Joe Brandt, Adam Fox, Tom Gardiner, Josh Sanders

Three people, a mother, a father and a caretaker, are charged after a 21-year-old blind and deaf man with cerebral palsy starved to death in a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, apartment, District Attorney Kevin Steele and Upper Dublin Township Police Chief Francis Wheatley announced Tuesday.

The charges come after months of investigation into the September 2024 death of Tylim Hatchett, a wheelchair-bound resident of the Dresher section of Upper Dublin Township. 

He was found dead on the floor of a unit in The Promenade apartments on Route 63, weighing just 59 pounds. A medical examiner ruled his cause of death to be complications of cerebral palsy and starvation — a homicide. 

"He's blind, he's deaf, he can only be in a wheelchair," Steel said. "He needs medication that is not being provided for him." 

Hatchett's mother Sherrilynn Hawkins, father Vernon Hatchett and caregiver Loretta Harris are all charged with neglect of a care-dependent person, Steele said in a news conference. Hawkins faces the most serious charges of first-degree and third-degree murder; Hatchett is also charged with involuntary manslaughter and Harris faces a charge of theft by deception. 

Sherrilynn Hawkins, Vernon Hatchett and Loretta Harris are charged with neglecting 21-year-old Tylim Hatchett, who had cerebral palsy and required the care of others. Montgomery County District Attorney's Office

Hawkins and Harris were both receiving benefit money to care for Tylim, who went without food and water for long periods of time, Steele said. 

"There was no feeding. There was no water," Steele said. "He starved to death in this apartment and was lying on the floor when the police came. This is a horrible death." 

The DA alleged during the last 18 days of Tylim Hatchett's life, he was left alone for 356 out of 425 hours — while Hawkins received over $2,000 and Harris $3,000 from a company called Aveanna Health Care. 

Detectives tracked Hawkins' cell phone's location, her vehicle's appearance on license plate readers around the region, swipe access records into the Promenade building and other data to determine when Tylim was and was not attended to, an affidavit of probable cause shows.

Investigators "put a lot of hours and a lot of time into this to make these determinations to show where these individuals were, that they were not with Tylim, which [is where] they were getting paid to be," Steele said.

Steele said the adults neglected a duty to care for a person who needed it. The 21-year-old had lost over 30 pounds since he was weighed in February at Abington Hospital, where he was listed at 90 pounds. 

"This is an individual who couldn't care for himself and was totally dependent upon care. He's a care-dependent person and they starved him to death. They just didn't provide for him during this period of time," Steele said. 

The charges come after months of investigations into Tylim's death back in September after his parents called 911. Residents were shocked at the news. 

"It's horrendous how parents, parents did that with the kid," said Aida Sokhieva, a resident. "I have no words. None of the kids deserve that, none of the humans deserve that." 

"They're taking money that they're not doing the work for," he added. "These were intentional omissions that she was making through this period of time. She had a duty as a parent, she had a duty as a contracted employee, she was receiving benefits for this, and she let him die." 

Hawkins and Harris are in custody. Hatchett has not been apprehended. Police are searching for him so he can face an arraignment regarding the charges.

On Friday, the U.S. Marshals Service of Philadelphia announced they will join the search for Hatchett. Anyone with information related to his whereabouts is asked to call in a tip at 1-866-865-TIPS(8477).

Hawkins is being held without bail.

A spokesperson for Aveanna Health Care released a statement later Tuesday: "Aveanna has well-established policies in place to ensure that authorized care is provided, with a robust compliance program that satisfies the prescribed oversight as defined by state regulators. We use technology and other means to validate the delivery of that care, and our supervisory measures meet the requirements defined by state regulators. The Company has and continues to cooperate with all investigations into this matter."

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Mother, father and caregiver charged after Pennsylvania 21-year-old with cerebral palsy dies of starvation

Woman charged for the financial exploitation of elderly person

by Erin Thompson

LEWISTOWN — A Milroy woman is facing felony charges after police said she took more than $26,000 from an elderly person while they were under her care.

Debbie Lynn Rickabaugh, 58, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Kent Smith Monday on charges of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and financial exploitation of an older adult or care dependent person.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, a family contacted Lewistown Borough Police Department, stating that Rickabaugh had been taking advantage of an elderly person who she had been caring for since August.

Police said Rickabaugh was hired by the family of the elderly in August to work 20 hours per week and that Rickabaugh began cashing checks for the family in early September.

The report states that the elderly person’s checking account had been declining in November and that several checks had been made out to Rickabaugh. The family noticed that several of the checks stated large amounts of hours worked in the memo line.

Police said the family again checked the account in January and found large discrepancies in the account.

During 21 weeks of employment, police said Rickabaugh made out about $26,443 in checks to herself and the elderly person had signed them in good faith that the amount was correct.

Rickabaugh was held in Mifflin County Correctional Facility on $25,000 unsecured bail. She is awaiting a preliminary hearing set for 9 a.m. Feb. 21 in Smith’s office.

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Woman charged for the financial exploitation of elderly person

Hanover woman allegedly stole more than $500,000 from elderly aunt

by Anthony Maenza

A Hanover woman is accused of stealing more than $500,000 from her elderly aunt. 

Jerri Ann Lare, 53, faces first-degree felony charges of financial exploitation of an older adult, theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds.

Penn Township Police executed a search warrant to check a joint bank account that had Lare’s and her 76-year-old aunt’s name on it, according to court documents. Police allegedly found large deposits into the joint account that Lare had set up as early as November 2021.  

Between November 2021 and December 2023, more than $600,000 was allegedly deposited into the joint account. Records indicate that more than $58,000 was paid to Sharon’s Personal Care Home, an assisted living facility caring for her aunt, according to police, while the rest of the funds are unaccounted for. 

Lare used money from the joint account to purchase things like vehicles, a hot tub, concrete work as well as make credit card payments, police allege. 

When the aunt was interviewed by police, she allegedly told investigators she was unaware Lare had transferred the money from Fidelity and did not give Lare permission to spend the money. She was also unaware her home in Maryland had been sold and those funds were used without her permission, police said. 

Lare was arrested Tuesday. District Judge Jeffrey Sneeringer set an unsecured bail of $25,000 on Wednesday. A preliminary hearing before Sneeringer is scheduled for March 5.

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Hanover woman allegedly stole more than $500,000 from elderly aunt

Power of attorney charged with misuse of $125K

HONEY GROVE — A 42-year-old woman is facing charges of exploitation after police said she misused funds while acting as a power of attorney.

Trisha Jean Santos-Villalobo, of Honey Grove, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Tracy Powell Friday on charges of financial exploitation and theft by deception.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, Santos Villalobo wes power of attorney of an individual between January and September 2022 and caused him more than $125,000 in loss.

During this time, police said she emptied the individual’s savings account, had the victim buy her a vehicle, sold the victim’s vehicle, failed to pay his bills and used the victim’s checking account for personal purchases.

Court documents also state that Santos-Villalobo also failed to pay attorney fees and take the victim to court hearings, causing him to be incarcerated.

In a police interview, the victim said his previous power of attorney passed away and that Santos-Villalobo asked to become the new power of attorney.

The report states that the victim bought her a Dodge Challenger, then eventually traded it in for a truck.

Police said Santos-Villalobo would give the victim $60-100 each week to use and believed the rest was going into his bank account and to pay his bills. Court documents state that Santos-Villalobo had his paychecks switched from direct deposit to being placed onto a debit card he did not have access to.

In the interview, the victim said Santos-Villalobo told him in September 2022 that he was running out of money and had to sell the Dodge Charger to get caught up on bills. The victim also said he lost power to his house and had the water shut off due to Santos-Villalobo not paying his bills.

Santos-Villalobo was held in Mifflin County Correctional Facility, unable to post $50,000 bail. She is awaiting a preliminary hearing set for 11 a.m. Dec. 6.

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Power of attorney charged with misuse of $125K

N.J. man charged in 'grandparent' scam targeting Keene resident

By PAUL CUNO-BOOTH

Metro Creative Connection

A New Jersey man has been charged with conspiring to steal $50,000 from an elderly Keene resident in an alleged “grandparent scam” in November, according to court documents.

The N.H. Attorney General’s Office obtained indictments Monday charging Elvis Guzman, 43, of Paterson, N.J., with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Both are class A felonies.

Keene police previously arrested another person — Starlyn J. Lara Pimental, 27, of Hyde Park, Mass. — in connection with the alleged scam.

Prosecutors claim that Guzman worked with Lara Pimental and at least one other person to defraud an 86-year-old Keene man. The charges allege an “unknown coconspirator” contacted the man on Nov. 2 pretending to be the man’s grandson, claimed he’d been arrested after an accident and asked for $18,000 for bail.

Guzman traveled to Keene that day, met the man in a parking lot and received $18,000 in cash from him, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors say one of the conspirators contacted the Keene man again the next day requesting another $32,000 and sent Lara Pimental to Keene to pick it up, where he was arrested.

In announcing the arrest of Lara Pimental in November, Keene police said a bank teller recognized the scam when the Keene man tried to withdraw cash a second time, and convinced him to contact his family and the police. According to a news release from the Keene Police Department, officers arranged a sting resulting in Lara Pimental’s arrest when he showed up to obtain the cash.

Earlier this month, the Attorney General’s Office announced Guzman had been indicted in Rockingham County on four other counts, alleging he “conspired with others to obtain cash from 11 elderly victims throughout the State” over several days in late October, according to a news release from the office. The Attorney General’s Office said the suspects falsely told people their grandchildren had been arrested, asked for money to post bail and — as is also alleged to have happened in the Keene case — sometimes told the grandparents a “gag order” prohibited them from talking about the arrest.

The Rockingham County indictments allege Guzman and his partners stole more than $100,000 from New Hampshire residents in those four days. He was arrested Nov. 6 by Londonderry police, according to the news release.

Grandparent scams are common and can involve callers claiming they are the victim’s grandchild and have been robbed, arrested, in an accident, hospitalized or stuck in a foreign country, according to the AARP. Often, the supposed “grandchild” will hand the phone over to someone seemingly authoritative, like a supposed doctor or lawyer, and ask their grandparent not to tell their parents.

To report elder abuse or financial exploitation, call your local police department or the N.H. Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services at 1-800-949-0470.

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N.J. man charged in 'grandparent' scam targeting Keene resident

Disbarred Lincoln attorney gets prison time for theft case

Craig Hoffman

A former Lincoln attorney disbarred by the Nebraska Supreme Court last October has been sentenced to two to four years in prison for keeping thousands of dollars in settlement checks intended for his clients.

Craig A. Hoffman, 44, pleaded no contest to theft by deception, over $5,000, as part of a plea deal in July, where prosecutors dismissed four other theft charges.

Police originally said Hoffman had kept $27,500 in insurance checks intended for two of his clients. The payments either were part of a settlement or intended to pay their medical bills.

Police later learned about three other victims.

Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus sentenced Hoffman earlier this month. 

Hoffman voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law in Nebraska and he was disbarred last October.

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Disbarred Lincoln attorney gets prison time for theft case

Probation for woman who stole $250G from her mother

by Alex Rose

Bernadette Branson-Lawler

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A Springfield woman was given five years of probation and ordered to pay more than $250,000 to the estate of her mother after pleading guilty Tuesday to a theft charge.

Bernadette Branson-Lawler, 55, of the first block of Meetinghouse Lane, was originally reported to have stolen $337,715 from her 78-year-old mother over a period of nearly seven years, according to a release from the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office issued Jan. 28, 2019.

Assistant District Attorney Erica Parham told  Common Pleas Court Judge Margaret Amoroso Wednesday that Branson-Lawler had repaid $208,134 of the total $253,285 restitution amount being sought.

She will continue making payments of $500 per month over the next five years to satisfy the remaining $45,151 under the negotiated guilty plea worked out by Parham and defense attorney Matthew Sedacca. Neither Branson-Lawler nor her attorney said anything prior to the sentence being handed down.

Detective Sgt. Anthony Ruggieri of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division Senior Exploitation launched an investigation in September 2017 after law enforcement received information about the possible financial exploitation of a 78-year woman, according to the release. The victim, who is non-verbal and predeceased by her husband in August 2009, was residing in a secure unit of an assisted living facility for individuals with dementia, the release states.

Following the death of her husband, the victim appointed her daughter, Branson-Lawler, as her power of attorney. Branson-Lawler remained an agent for the victim until July 2013, when she petitioned the Orphan's Court of Delaware County to become guardian for her mother due to her diminished mental capacity and other health related issues, the release says. Branson-Lawler was appointed plenary guardian by the court until she was removed by the Orphan's Court in October 2017 and replaced by a court-appointed attorney.

Brandon-Lawler sold her mother’s house in Springfield for $269,000 in January 2013, then moved her mother to an assisted living facility, according to the release. In July 2017, Branson-Lawler failed to file the annual guardian's inventory and the annual reports of the person and the estate, as required by the Delaware County Orphan’s Court.

After failing to submit the required guardian paperwork and not appearing for court, a court-appointed attorney reviewed all of the victim’s financial records and discovered suspicious withdrawals made by Brandon-Lawler.

When questioned, Branson-Lawler admitted that she withdrew money from her mother’s accounts for personal expenses, such as her interior design business, her electric and insurance bills and gym membership. She also indicated she wrote herself checks, according to the release.

An investigation ensued and Branson-Lawler was ultimately charged with 21 counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and false impression, and receiving stolen property, all second-degree felony offenses. The remaining counts were dropped under the plea deal.

Parham indicated that the commonwealth would not object to termination of the probationary sentence early if Branson-Lawler completed making restitution payments early.

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Probation for woman who stole $250G from her mother

Police: She bought new home, car, went on 'nice vacations.' Meanwhile, employee checks bounced, taxes weren't paid and utilities were cut

Melinda R. Bixler

The owner of two West Manchester Township elder-care companies — one a nonprofit — spent money earmarked for indigent elderly people to buy herself a home, put her son through drug rehab and give to family members, West Manchester Township Police said.

Melinda R. Bixler bought a new Lexus and took her three children and boyfriend on "very nice vacations" to Australia and the Caribbean, according to charging documents.

She created two businesses, both located at 4070 W. Market St., police said — Elder Healthcare Solutions and the nonprofit Adult Care Advocates.

The purpose of the nonprofit was to provide financial assistance to clients in need, such as helping clients with rent money after a lengthy hospital stay, police said, while Elder Healthcare Solutions provided power-of-attorney services for people unable to manage their own financial affairs.

"I am in the process of reviewing the allegations contained within the criminal complaint," her defense attorney, Chris Ferro, told The York Dispatch. "This is a complicated matter. Further comment at this time on the substance of the charges would not be appropriate."

Seven felonies: Bixler, 47, of the 1600 block of South Wyndham Drive in Spring Garden Township, remains free on $200,000 bail, charged with seven first-degree felonies — three corrupt organization offenses, theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, conspiracy to commit theft and receiving stolen property, according to court records.

Charging documents state she bought her current home for $685,000 and used money she embezzled to do so. The 6,500-square-foot home has five bedrooms and 4½ bathrooms, according to Zillow.com.

Bixler, with the help of her 22-year old son, Zachary Bixler, moved money that was bequeathed to Adult Care Advocates to Elder Healthcare's bank account, to her own private bank accounts and co-mingled the money with her son's bank accounts, charging documents allege.

"In fact, the activity was so suspicious on (one) account that (M&T Bank's) Financial Investigation Unit conducted their own investigation into the matter," documents state.

When Zachary Bixler purportedly needed to go to drug rehab, Melinda Bixler allegedly told an employee it was going to cost $14,000, according to documents, which indicated she paid for his rehab stay.

Utilities shut off? Meanwhile, Elder Healthcare Solutions began to struggle financially, documents state — employees' paychecks were bouncing, utilities at the business office were being turned off and taxes weren't being paid, documents state.

Melinda Bixler's credit cards were being refused when she would try to pay for lunches, police allege.

Zachary Bixler remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail, charged with the felonies of being part of a corrupt organization, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit theft.

Defense attorney Stephen McDonald, who represents Zachary Bixler, said he had no immediate comment on Monday, Jan. 27.

York County detectives assisted West Manchester Township Police with the investigation.

They began investigating after a former Elder Healthcare employee brought her concerns to authorities, documents indicate.

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Police: She bought new home, car, went on 'nice vacations.' Meanwhile, employee checks bounced, taxes weren't paid and utilities were cut

Lawyer charged in $400G theft from clients faces competency hearing

Gregory G. Stagliano

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A Delaware County personal-injury attorney accused of stealing more than $400,000 in settlement funds that were supposed to go to his clients will have a competency hearing next month.

Gregory G. Stagliano, 61, of the 500 block of Chaumont Drive in Radnor, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft of services, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, all felonies of the third degree, as well as a misdemeanor count of unauthorized practice of law. He is additionally charged in a separate but related case involving insurance.

Stagliano has been declared incompetent, however, on the basis that he cannot remember the entire period where he allegedly pocketed money that was supposed to go to nine different victims he represented in personal-injury cases.

Former District Attorney Jack Whelan said when announcing the charges in May 2017 that investigators led by county Detective Michele Deery began looking at Stagliano in July 2016, based on a tip from the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Investigators found a similar pattern of theft in each of the nine cases, with Stagliano allegedly depositing funds meant for clients into his own Santander Interest on Lawyers Trust Account for personal use.

Stagliano has been represented by three attorneys in the case and previously appeared before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Alice Brennan, but the case is now before Senior Judge Michael Coll, who handles competency cases.

Stagliano’s current attorney, John Hickey, filed the competency motion on the basis that without his memory, Stagliano cannot assist in his defense. Hickey and Assistant District Attorney William Judge appeared before Coll at the end of January on that issue.

Coll signed an order Feb. 7 directing Stagliano to seek treatment for restoration of competency, but has since been suspicious of the memory loss claims in subsequent court appearances.

“What a convenient lapse of memory, huh?” the judge asked Hickey at a prior hearing. “It looks like we’re in this position – as long as says he doesn’t remember, he’s going to be deemed to be not competent? That’s unacceptable. That’s unacceptable. How could you tell whether he’s faking it or not?”

Hickey has noted that a court-appointed psychologist, a neuropsychologist and Stagliano’s current treating psychiatrist all back up his claims of memory loss due to a combination of opioids and nerve pain medications he was taking at the time. Hickey added that a brain scan showed Stagliano has a lesion on the part of his brain that controls memory and cognition, which would lend his story some credibility.

Hickey requested a full hearing to litigate the competency issue during a status hearing Wednesday and Coll set a July 15 date. Judge said the attorneys would try to work out any stipulations and discovery issues before that date.

Coll also advised Hickey that he would revoke Stagliano’s bail if he attempted to “alienate” his assets, and that any such assets would be subject to clawbacks, similar to a bankruptcy. Hickey said his client has not attempted to do so.

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Lawyer charged in $400G theft from clients faces competency hearing

See Also:
Lawyer accused of ripping off clients claims no memory

Lawyer heads to trial for $400G theft from clients

Lawyer accused of ripping off clients claims no memory

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A Delaware County personal injury attorney accused of stealing more than $400,000 in settlement funds that were supposed to go to his clients now claims he has no memory of his alleged actions.

Gregory G. Stagliano, 61, of the 500 block of Chaumont Drive in Radnor, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft of services, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, all felonies of the third degree, as well as a misdemeanor count of unauthorized practice of law. He is additionally charged in a separate but related case involving insurance.

Stagliano has been declared incompetent, however, on the basis that he cannot remember the entire period when he allegedly was pocketing money that was supposed to go to nine different victims he represented in personal injury cases.

Former District Attorney Jack Whelan said when announcing the charges in May 2017 that investigators led by county Detective Michele Deery began looking at Stagliano in July 2016, based on a tip from the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Investigators found a similar pattern of theft in each of the nine cases, with Stagliano allegedly depositing funds meant for clients into his own Santander Interest on Lawyers Trust Account for personal use.

Stagliano has been represented by three attorneys in the case and previously appeared before Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mary Alice Brennan, but the case is now before Senior Judge Michael Coll, who handles competency cases.

Stagliano’s current attorney, John Hickey, filed the competency motion on the basis that without his memory, Stagliano cannot assist in his defense. Hickey and Assistant District Attorney William Judge appeared before Coll at the end of January on that issue.

Coll signed the order Feb. 7 directing Stagliano to seek treatment for restoration of competency, but seemed incredulous of Stagliano’s claims during a hearing Tuesday.

“What a convenient lapse of memory, huh?” the judge asked Hickey. “It looks like we’re in this position – as long as he says he doesn’t remember, he’s going to be deemed to be not competent? That’s unacceptable. That’s unacceptable. How could you tell whether he’s faking it or not?”

But Hickey noted that a court-appointed psychologist, a neuropsychologist and Stagliano’s current treating psychiatrist all back up his claims of memory loss due to a combination of opioids and nerve pain medications he was taking at the time. Hickey added that a brain scan showed Stagliano has a lesion on the part of his brain that controls memory and cognition, which would lend his story some credibility.

“The fact that there’s a lesion on his brain doesn’t lead to the conclusion that he’s lost his memory,” the judge said.

“If someone says their foot hurts, you can say, ‘Anyone can say their foot hurts,’” said Hickey. “If you take an x-ray and you happen to see a broken bone, you say, ‘Oh, there’s something objective to verify what they’re saying.’”

Hickey said he was unable to get a complete update on Stagliano’s treatment before the hearing Tuesday, but Coll has ordered that a report be delivered within two weeks recounting precisely what is being done to restore his memory.

Hickey later said the record indicates that the combination of medications his client was taking actually precluded him from forming those memories in the first place, so it would be very difficult for him to regain them.

The next scheduled hearing is March 5.

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Lawyer accused of ripping off clients claims no memory

Prison-bound lawyer to pay back over $300K he stole from clients

A Woodbridge lawyer admitted to stealing his clients money, and entered into a plea agreement that includes five years in state prison and restitution of approximately $310,000.

Richard Zuvich, 64, of Woodbridge pleaded guilty Monday in Middlesex County Superior Court to thefts that took place between May 8, 2015 and July 2017 according to Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

In the first incident, prosecutors say Zuvich admitted he took the proceeds from a house sale for a client, put the funds in a trust account, then withdrew the funds for himself.

He pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of entrusted property.

In another incident, Zuvich stole the insurance settlement money for his client for a house that burned down. Prosecutors say the client had no knowledge that Zuvich had negotiated the settlement.

As part of the settlement, Zuvich pleaded guilty to theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition.

Zuvich has practiced as a lawyer for nearly 27 years.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez in New Brunswick on Feb. 22, 2019. 

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Prison-bound lawyer to pay back over $300K he stole from clients

Disbarred Lawyer Is Convicted in Theft of $1.5M From Clients

A former Jersey City solo practitioner was convicted Wednesday of charges that he stole more than $1.5 million from clients over a period of more than a decade.

A Hudson County jury found Joseph Talafous Jr., 55, of Toms River, New Jersey, guilty of three counts of theft by unlawful taking, three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property received, five counts of misapplication of entrusted property, two counts of theft by deception, and four counts of filing fraudulent state income tax returns. All of the convictions were for offenses of the second or third degree.

The verdict followed a six-week trial before Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina in Jersey City. The charges carry a term of five to 10 years in state prison. Sentencing is set for Feb. 16.

His attorney, Gerald Miller of Miller, Meyerson && Corbo in Jersey City, said Talafous plans to appeal.

Prosecutors said Talafous used a power of attorney to make unauthorized withdrawals of thousands of dollars from the investment account of an elderly client who lived in Jersey City and from the client’s estate after the client died in 2010.

Talafous was also convicted of stealing approximately $461,000 from a trust set up for the benefit of a young boy in 2005 with funds from a wrongful death suit stemming from the death of his father. The father died in 2001 in a workplace accident when the child, a West New York resident, was still an infant.

He was also convicted of stealing approximately $300,000 from the estate of an elderly Jersey City woman who died in 2009 without any immediate family. She had hired him to prepare her will and had named him executor of her estate.

And he stole approximately $400,000 from the estate of a Jersey City man who died in 2012 and whose family hired Talafous as attorney for the estate, which included several life insurance policies worth a total of more than $870,000.

Finally, from 2012 to 2015, Talafous stole $330,000 that was entrusted to him as counsel for the estate of a Jersey City woman who owned property in New York.

The case was referred to the Division of Criminal Justice by the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. The Supreme Court of New Jersey revoked Talafous’ license to practice law by consent in August 2015.

“Lawyers have a duty to uphold the law and protect the interests of their clients, but Talafous treated his law license like a license to steal, sinking to the point of stealing nearly half a million dollars from a young boy who lost his father,” Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in a statement. “This verdict will send Talafous to prison, where he belongs for his deplorable conduct. I commend our attorneys, detectives and entire trial team for building a strong case and skillfully presenting it at trial.”

“This verdict sends a strong message that lawyers who abuse their licenses and break the law will face stern punishment,” Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice said in a statement. “We will not tolerate lawyers who steal from their clients.”

But Miller, the defense attorney, said Talafous has continued to deny the charges and maintained that he did not take any funds he was not entitled to. “There are substantial grounds to appeal,” Miller said, citing evidentiary rulings during trial.

 Talafous’ charges originally included money laundering in the first degree, but that charge was dismissed by the Appellate Division in June 2017.

The Appellate Division said evidence that Talafous used his trust and business accounts to facilitate the alleged thefts by itself didn’t support the charge of money laundering, the only first-degree offense among the 19 counts with which he was charged.

In that ruling, the appeals court said the money laundering statute is intended to be construed broadly to serve its purposes, but it requires proof of something more than an underlying crime.

“The State presented no evidence that the theft was concealed (as opposed to committed) through placement of the money in defendant’s accounts,” the Appellate Division said.

Deputy Attorneys General Janet Bosi and Brandy Malfitano tried the case for the state.

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Disbarred Lawyer Is Convicted in Theft of $1.5M From Clients

Lawyer heads to trial for $400G theft from clients

Gregory G. Stagliano

MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> A Delaware County personal injury attorney waived arraignment Wednesday on charges that he stole more than $400,000 in settlement funds that were supposed to go to his clients.

Gregory G. Stagliano, 61, of the 500 block of Chaumont Drive in Radnor, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft of services, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property, all felonies of the third degree, in allegedly pocketing money that was supposed to go to nine different victims he represented in personal injury cases. Stagliano is additionally charged with unauthorized practice of law.

District Attorney Jack Whelan said when announcing the charges in May that investigators led by county Detective Michele Deery began looking at Stagliano in July 2016, based on a tip from the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Investigators found a similar pattern of theft in each of the nine cases, with Stagliano allegedly depositing funds meant for clients into his own Santander Interest on Lawyers Trust Account for personal use.

In one case, Stagliano received $65,000 that was supposed to go to the victim in a car accident, according to a release from the District Attorney’s office. But prosecutors claim Stagliano paid the victim only $7,500, then warned her to stop contacting him seeking the balance.

“I wish you to cease your continued harassing communications in this regard and if you do not, we will go about it in a different way,” he allegedly told that victim.

An investigation by the Disciplinary Board revealed that Stagliano still owed that victim $40,000. Deery looked into the bank records and found just $133.77 remained in the account, according to the release.

“As prosecutors, we find the violation of his sworn fiduciary responsibly especially disturbing and Mr. Stagliano used this position in order to fund his own lavish lifestyle and pay his own personal debts with his clients’ money,” said Whelan. “Individuals should be able to trust their attorneys and abusing that trust is both unethical and in this case criminal. Today’s arrest of Mr. Stagliano should send a clear message that no one is above the law.”

A pretrial conference date was not immediately available. Anyone who believes they also have been victimized by Stagliano is urged to contact Deery at 610-891-8745.

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Lawyer heads to trial for $400G theft from clients

More felony charges filed against disbarred attorney

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - Five more people have come forward, claiming to have been victimized by a disbarred attorney who was originally arrested last spring for allegedly misusing money meant for a woman in Berks County.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Friday additional felony charges against Patrick Bradley. Those charges include dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property.

Bradley, 45, of Collegeville, was arrested on April 10 for the alleged theft and misappropriation of $146,917.01 in client funds. Publicity surrounding the case led to the discovery of five additional victims, with losses totaling $13,954.19, Steele said.

Bradley was authorized to use the money to pay the living expenses of a woman in a facility in Berks County, however, he instead used it to pay for his utility and cell phone bills, restaurant meals, gas, and retail purchases, Steele said.

"These victims believed they were paying for legal work by a reputable attorney who was in good standing and licensed," Steele said. "Instead, the defendant took money for work he was not authorized to perform, never fully performed or that he stole funds he was to safeguard for the benefit of an individual. He took advantage of good people for his own gain."

Bradley is free on $50,000 bail. He's due in court for a preliminary hearing on August 22.

In the meantime, Steele said there may be more than the 17 victims located, so far. Anyone with information concerning questionable legal interactions or use of their funds by Bradley is asked to call the Montgomery County detectives at 610-278-3368.

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More felony charges filed against disbarred attorney

Man gets 20 years for ripping off elderly in scam

A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his part in a scam in which thousands of dollars were stolen from the elderly.

Joseph Dada Akintoye, 34, of Nigeria, was convicted Wednesday in Cobb County Superior Court of 15 charges, including racketeering, money laundering, theft by taking, theft by deception and exploitation of elder persons.

An international organization Akintoye belonged to called elderly people or contacted them online and convinced them to wire money into accounts he controlled, Kim Isaza, the spokeswoman for Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds, said in an emailed statement.

According to that statement, some victims were led to believe that the person calling them was a grandchild who was in jail in another state and needed the money for bail. Another victim was contacted by a man on Match.com and led to think she was helping with a foreign financial deal.

Three victims, none of them in Georgia, wired nearly $50,000 into an account held by a Marietta woman who was an associate of Akintoye, Isaza said. He told her how to launder the funds and how to shift them between various accounts.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars from other unidentified victims moved through the accounts of the Marietta woman, Isaza said. Some of the money was sent to Akintoye’s own account in Jacksonville, Fla., while most of it went to Nigeria and Malaysia.

“This is absolutely racketeering,” Cobb Superior Court Judge Adele Grubbs said before sentencing Akintoye. “He’s one of the kingpins, and he should pay. He’s come in this country, and he’s used this country. He’s contributed nothing.”

The last three years of Akintoye’s sentence will be suspended if he pays $35,000 restitution within one year. He was also fined $50,000.

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Man gets 20 years for ripping off elderly in scam