Latest news with #financialexploitation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Westmoreland County attorney arrested during standoff with police serving warrant
A Westmoreland County attorney accused of stealing from a woman's estate was arrested after a standoff with officers who were serving a warrant, authorities say. Police arrested Robert Klingensmith, 61, of Murrysville, at his office on Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville on Saturday, according to a Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office spokesperson. The warrant for his arrest was issued last week. Klingensmith reportedly sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the 'brief' standoff with police. Officials say he underwent life-preserving surgery, but his condition is not known. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Westmoreland County attorney accused of stealing over $300K from woman's estate Leading up to his arrest, Klingensmith was charged with theft, financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person and theft by failure to make required payment or disposition of funds. Authorities claim that Klingensmith stole money from a woman's estate that he was hired to handle, using ATM withdrawals and/or checks. He allegedly removed more than $311,000 from the account between August 2021 to March 2024. Investigators also claim Klingensmith failed to file an inheritance tax return, tax payments or distribute money to the victim's four heirs. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Harmony woman accused of financially exploiting vulnerable adult out of over $86K
May 22—PRESTON, Minn. — A Harmony woman has been accused of withdrawing and transferring more than $86,000 into her personal bank accounts from the bank account of a vulnerable adult. Kisa Lyn O'Connor, 46, was charged in Fillmore County District Court with 18 counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to court documents filed on Thursday, May 22. Beginning in February 2024, the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office received reports from the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) that indicated concerns that O'Connor was "mishandling or misappropriating" the adult's finances. O'Connor was the power of attorney for the adult. According to the criminal complaint, a report in February 2024 revealed that O'Connor attempted to withdraw $100,000 from the victim's account. One of the victim's family members, who was previously one of the adult's powers of attorney, spoke with Fillmore County investigators and alleged O'Connor cashed in everything the victim had, including her retirement, pension and savings, after the family sold the victim's home. The family member told police O'Connor had been removing the victim's funds from the bank account and putting them in a safe inside O'Connor's home. According to the complaint, O'Connor took the victim to see a lawyer and made the victim deem O'Connor as the sole power of attorney and executor/personal representative on the victim's will. The victim was diagnosed with dementia in 2023, and medical records indicated that she was not able to "make major decisions, sign agreements or handle her own finances at the time funds were taken by O'Connor." From Nov. 4, 2023, through Feb. 20, 2025, O'Connor issued the withdrawal of more than $278,800. At least $86,800 was withdrawn in cash or transferred to O'Connor's bank account, according to the complaint. When Fillmore County investigators contacted O'Connor on Oct. 29, 2024, she told them she took out a $14,000 prepayment for seven months of expenses because the victim was living with her. According to the complaint, O'Connor said she and the former power of attorney decided $2,000 per month would be the payment to care for the victim. On Oct. 31, 2024, a Fillmore County Adult Protection Social Worker and an investigator followed up with O'Connor at her residence. O'Connor said she and her family had an agreement on the terms. She also said she withdrew $24,000 in cash from the victim's account the week prior. O'Connor returned the money to the victim's account after the investigator told her to. "During her time as victim's caretaker, it is alleged that O'Connor failed to use victim's financial resources for victim's benefit or lawful purposes," the complaint said. "Instead, it is alleged that O'Connor used victim's funds and resources for the benefit of herself or someone other than victim."
