PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) — An area woman has been charged with financially exploiting her elderly mother and stealing over $150,000.00 through her role as power of attorney, according to Punxsutawney-based State Police.
Court records filed on December 20, 2024, indicate 56-year-old Kelly Jo Wright, of Ridgway, faces the following criminal charges:
– Financial Exploitation of an Older Adult or Care-Dependent Person, Felony 2
– Theft by Deception-False Impression, Felony 2
– Theft by Deception-Prevent Acquisition of Information, Felony 2
– Theft by Deception-Failure to Correct, Felony 2
According to PSP Punxsutawney, the investigation began when Wright’s sister reported suspected theft in September 2023.
Medical records show the victim has been treated for dementia since 2020, with her condition listed as “moderate,” making her vulnerable to exploitation, police noted.
State Police Trooper Michael C. Malloy’s investigation revealed that Wright became power of attorney for her mother in March 2022, according to a criminal complaint, and Wright allegedly proceeded to drain her accounts through ATM withdrawals, gambling expenditures, and payments of personal debts over an 18-month time period, beginning around March 2022 to approximately September 19, 2023.
It was learned in the investigation that Wright allegedly spent thousands at casinos and gambling establishments, including businesses in Punxsutawney and Reynoldsville, where she was reportedly gambling up to three to five times per week. Additionally, investigators obtained Wright’s gambling records from Seneca Casino in Salamanca, New York, showing net losses of over $17,000.00 in 2022 and over $7,000.00 in 2023, according to the complaint.
The victim’s monthly income included Social Security benefits, her ex-husband’s pension payments, and IRA deposits, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, Trooper Malloy learned that Wright surrendered her mother’s $123,000.00 IRA against financial advisors’ recommendations, then withdrew over $106,000.00 in cash within 23 days, the complaint continues.
The Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging had previously investigated in April 2022 after receiving a referral about possible exploitation. During their month-and-a-half investigation, protective services workers made home visits and exchanged correspondence with the victim. Wright claimed she was using the IRA money to build a home addition for her mother — renovations that police believe never occurred, the complaint notes.
According to the complaint, the investigation revealed that Wright was operating a rescue horse farm, caring for more than 30 horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats. It was noted there are substantial costs that are associated with maintaining such an operation.
According to the complaint, Wright stated her only source of income was her monthly Social Security benefit in the amount of approximately $1,600.00.
A preliminary hearing for Wright is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025.
It was also noted in the complaint that the case is further complicated by a separate theft charge against Wright involving a male victim, where she allegedly received transfers totaling nearly $200,000.00 in April 2023, the complaint states.
