JoAnne Natalie, Theft and Misappropriation, New York 2023

A 64-year-old Saratoga Springs woman has been accused of stealing from a veteran and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

JoAnne Natalie, 64, of Saratoga Springs, New York, was indicted earlier this month for misappropriating the funds of a veteran declared legally incompetent, as well as stealing from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York announced the indictment, which was made possible through the efforts of the US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

Natalie is accused of stealing a total of $50,174.42 from the veteran and the VA. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

Natalie was arraigned in Albany on April 18, 2023, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was released pending a trial scheduled before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.

The case is being investigated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is working to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial fraud and scams that target older adults.

According to the indictment, Natalie was the fiduciary of a veteran declared legally incompetent. As a fiduciary, she was responsible for managing the veteran’s financial affairs.

The indictment alleges that Natalie misappropriated the veteran’s funds for her own benefit, and also stole from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving elders can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.

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