An elderly New York resident has lost more than $250,000 after a trusted neighbor and an accomplice drained nearly all of the victim’s savings.
The victim, who was over 90 years old, saw holdings fall from nearly $284,000 to just $99.59, according to the Justice Department.
Prosecutors say Nahtahna Castner gained the neighbor’s trust and shared the victim’s banking details with a co-conspirator.
The pair then pulled cash from ATMs, moved money into Castner’s own account and made debit card purchases on the victim’s funds.
They also applied for three credit cards in the victim’s name and ran up thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges.
Prosecutors put the unauthorized bank transactions at about $252,673 over roughly two and a half years.
In September of 2024, the DOJ said the victim’s son discovered the scheme after she was hospitalized in January 2022.
“However, the Victim’s son decided to go to the bank anyway to get money, at which time he became aware that the bank accounts were empty. Castner immediately moved out of the duplex without notice and did not contact any of the Victim’s family again. In speaking with his mother about the missing money, the Victim stated it must have been ‘Tana.’ The Victim passed away on February 23, 2023.”
At the time, the DOJ alleged that Castner used the money to fund vacation trips as well as personal expenses.
“Castner used the money she stole from the Victim on a variety of purchases, such as travel, which included a trip to Hawaii, hotels, car repairs, insurance, and car payments.”
A federal judge in the Western District of New York sentenced Castner to four years in prison.
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This post New York Woman and Co-Conspirator Drain $252,672 From Elderly Neighbor: DOJ may be modified as updates unfold.
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