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Scranton Couple Gets Jail Time for Defrauding Aunt’s Estate
A Scranton couple has been sentenced for their role in a scheme to defraud the estate of a deceased aunt, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Tamara Santarelli, 70, and her husband Victor J. Santarelli, III, 57, were sentenced on October 17 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik. Tamara was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Victor was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Judge Kosik further ordered that both defendants jointly pay $74,390.55 in restitution.
The couple was convicted in October 2011 of conspiring to defraud the estate of a deceased aunt, mail and wire fraud. The investigation revealed that between May 2006 and August 2007, Victor J. Santarelli, III and Tamara Santarelli, both formerly of Scranton, engaged in a scheme to defraud the estate of Victor’s deceased aunt, Joanne Striminsky.
The defendants gained control of the victim by assuming Power of Attorney and Executor status under a will that they drafted. After assuming control, the Santarellis had the 82-year-old victim, who suffered from Alzheimers, involuntarily committed to a psychiatric unit of a local hospital and then, under the guise of Power of Attorney, went about taking all of her assets, including her house.
When the victim died midway through the Santarellis’ scheme, they had her body buried in an unmarked grave.
The United States Attorney’s Office praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Services, Philadelphia Division, who conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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