Buffalo, NY — Cassie Tillinghast, 32, of Buffalo, NY, has pleaded guilty to defrauding the elderly couple who employed her as a home health aide, stealing thousands through credit fraud and manipulating their estate — all while on probation for a prior theft charge.
Tillinghast was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to 10 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release that includes six months of home detention. She was also ordered to pay $6,464.89 in restitution, a sum that doesn’t even cover the full scope of the damage she inflicted.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, Tillinghast was hired in May 2015 to care for the elderly mother of Victim 1, living in the same home as the victim and her husband. Instead of providing care, she used her position of trust to apply for a Discover credit card in the victim’s name. Between November 25 and December 21, 2015, Tillinghast ran up $6,462.89 in fraudulent charges at retail stores across Western New York.
But the theft didn’t stop at credit card fraud. Tillinghast manipulated Victim 1 into buying her luxury items — including a truck, motorcycle, house, and jewelry — and handing over cash. She also pressured the victim to rewrite her will, naming Tillinghast as the primary beneficiary, and altered two life insurance policies to include herself and her children. A health care proxy was also signed, giving Tillinghast legal authority over the victim’s medical decisions.
The betrayal was made worse by Tillinghast’s criminal history. At the time of the offenses, she was already on probation for Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree — a red flag ignored as she infiltrated a vulnerable household under the guise of compassion.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, led by Acting Inspector-in-Charge Raymond Moss of the Boston Field Division. U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized that exploiting the elderly for personal gain will be met with federal consequences — especially when the perpetrator is already on probation and should’ve known better.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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