A Florida woman was recently arrested for defrauding a Holocaust survivor out of $2.8 million.
Peaches "Alice" Stergo of of Championsgate, Fla., was arrested Jan. 25 following an unsealed federal indictment charging her with wire fraud, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
"As alleged, for years, Stergo deceived an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, maliciously draining his life savings so she could become a millionaire through fraud," U.S. Attorney for New York's Southern District Damian Williams said in the news release. "Stergo forged documents and impersonated a bank employee in exchange for a life of fancy trips, Rolex watches and luxury purchases. Today's arrest reemphasizes this office's commitment to seeking justice for victims of financial frauds."
Stergo is charged with one count of wire fraud, which has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, the release reported. Her case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.
Stergo reportedly met her victim, a Manhattan man, on a dating website six or seven years ago and started asking him for money in 2017, claiming her attorney in a fictitious litigation settlement was holding up settlement funds until she turned over money, according to the release. Stergo repeatedly claimed she needed more and more money during the next four and a half years, telling her victim her bank was about to freeze her accounts and, if that happened, he would never be repaid.
Stergo also is alleged to have faked emails from her bank and produced false invoices for the victim's bank to explain such large transfers, the release reported.
"While the victim lost his life savings and was forced to give up his apartment, Stergo lived a life of luxury with the millions she received from the fraud," the news release said.
Among other things, Stergo purchased a home in a gated community, a boat, numerous cars, gold coins and bars, jewelry and designer clothing from stores such as Tiffany, Neiman Marcus and Louis Vuitton, the release reported.
"Today, we allege the defendant callously preyed on a senior citizen simply seeking companionship, defrauding him of his life savings," FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said in the release. "The FBI is determined to get justice for victims of fraud and to ensure that scammers face justice for their actions."
