Caregiver Charged With Manipulating Stroke Victim Into Refinancing Home, Misapplying Proceeds For Personal Expenses

In Stamford, Connecticut, The Advocate reports:

• A 50-year-old Stamford woman is charged with scamming $66,000 from a former co-worker who was recovering from a stroke, police said, though the victim lost about $100,000 more in the alleged scheme. Bridget Gleason-Paniccia [...] was arrested after an investigation that began in 2007, when Stamford police received a complaint from the victim, now 57, who reported that 13 fraudulent credit card accounts worth $72,273 were opened in her name while she was hospitalized with a severe stroke in 2003, Sgt. Peter diSpagna said.

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• Gleason-Paniccia moved into the victim's home weeks before a stroke put her into a hospital for two months, police said. During the victim's hospital stay, Gleason-Paniccia allegedly racked up thousands in credit card bills and convinced the victim it was her debt, police said. The stroke left the victim with several physical ailments and brain injuries, police said. When the hospital released her, Gleason-Paniccia became her care-giver, police said.

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• Gleason-Paniccia allegedly manipulated the victim into refinancing her mortgage to pay off the credit card bills, police said. The victim got a $163,000 loan and paid off the credit card bills, but Gleason-Paniccia allegedly convinced her to open a joint bank account to keep the remaining $88,000, police said. [...] Gleason-Paniccia withdrew $66,000 from the account in increments, police said.

• It took four years for the victim to realize the extent of the scam. As she regained her awareness and mental capabilities, the victim turned to police and handed them 82 checks forged in her name, diSpagna said.

For more, see Stamford woman charged with scamming stroke victim. DeedZetaTheft