Caregiver/Handyman Cops Plea To $600K+ Ripoff Of 93-Year Old Pennsylvania Woman

In Cambria County, Pennsylvania, The Tribune Democrat reports:

• A Windber man admitted in Cambria County Court Thursday that he had ripped off an elderly West Hills woman for more than $600,000 while working for her as a handyman and caregiver. Frank A. Solensky Jr., 56, [...] pleaded guilty to nine felony counts of theft by deception and one count of forgery. [...] Solensky agreed that at the time of sentencing, he would make $100,000 on the restitution owed to the victim, who is now 93 years old. Tulowitzki said at the time of sentencing he will determine the exact amount of restitution owed, although a forensic audit showed that $680,000 is the amount due from 2000 into 2008.

• Assistant District Attorney Wayne Langerholc said that Solensky, while working for the victim, was reimbursed by the woman at greatly inflated purchase prices for various household repairs, equipment and goods.(1) Langerholc and [police detective George] Musulin said that the case is a warning to senior citizens and their families to closely monitor any financial accounts handled by a caregiver.

For more, see Caregiver admits $600,000 theft.

See also: Violating trust is one of the worst crimes.

(1) Accotrding to the story, examples included a $950 charge for salt for the woman’s driveway and seven garage-door openers for $2,500 each, said George Musulin, the West Hills police detective who investigated the case. The remote-control openers can be purchased for less than $40 each, he said.