Long Island couple accused of stealing $185K from uncle who suffered stroke

Friday, January 25, 2019
MINEOLA, New York -- A Long Island couple is under arrest and accused of stealing nearly $185,000 from a family member who was hospitalized after a stroke.

Philip and Debilyn Neidecker, both 47, are accused of stealing the money from Philip's uncle to help pay for their daughter's Sweet 16, vacations, concert tickets, rent, and more.
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Authorities said they obtained a power of attorney for the 64-year-old victim when he was in the hospital on Jan. 22, 2014. The next day, they allegedly used the signed power of attorney to open a new bank account in the victim's name and without his consent.

Over the next three years, they allegedly withdrew $138,000 from the victim's bank account, charged $30,000 to a credit card opened in his name, and opened a car loan in his name for $16,000.

In October of 2017, the victim's sisters took over as power of attorney after they realized payments on his assisted living residence weren't being made.
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Both Philip and Debilyn are facing charges of grand larceny and multiple charges of criminal possession of a forged instrument.

The defendants were released to probation and are due back in court on Jan. 31.



If convicted of the top count, they face a maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison.
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