DA: Philly Woman Swindled Elderly 'Sweetheart'
MEDIA, Pa. (AP) — A district attorney has charged a Philadelphia woman with swindling $44,000 from an 84-year-old man who was led to believe he was the suspect's sweetheart.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan has charged 45-year-old Sylvia Ristick with theft, forgery and other crimes for allegedly making unauthorized purchases using the man's life savings.
The incidents occurred between 2006 and 2013 and depleted the man's life savings and caused his home mortgage to be foreclosed.
Ristick faces a preliminary hearing April 3. The defense attorney listed in court records could not immediately be reached Saturday, and Ristick does not have a listed phone number.
The DA says Ristick was able to con the man into letting her spend his money by claiming to have colon cancer and problems with her kidneys.
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