A Lower Saucon Township woman was convicted of felony financial exploitation of an older adult following a jury trial in the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas last week.
Alyssa Piazza, 54, was convicted of financial exploitation of an older adult following a Northampton County Court of Common Pleas jury trial last week. (Credit: Lower Saucon Township Police Department)
According to a Nov. 5 news release from the county district attorney’s office, 54-year-old Alyssa Piazza liquidated her mother’s estate by criminally misusing a power of attorney she held.
“Piazza’s actions virtually rendered her mother homeless, as she diverted her mother’s entire financial estate, including selling her mother’s home that her mother had lived in for the past 27 years,” the release said.
According to a source familiar with the details of the case, the home was located on Mansfield Street in the Society Hill development and was sold for more than $180,000.
In total, Piazza stole money and assets totaling more than $200,000 from her mother, the source said.
Piazza was first charged with stealing from the estate in October 2022, and the case against her was later amended to include additional charges.
In addition to financial exploitation, at trial she was also found guilty of five counts of theft, and of striking, shoving, kicking or threatening a care-dependent person. She was found not guilty of two theft charges and a charge of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, according to the case docket.
Piazza was represented by public defender George Nassif, and the state was represented by Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta, who said he was thankful for the jury’s decision following its careful consideration of the evidence that was presented.
According to his office’s news release, financial exploitation of older adults is a serious problem in the United States and accounts for losses in excess of $3 billion per year.
“The statistics also bear out that the high prevalence of social isolation, cognitive impairment and the existence of expected trust between the victim and pepetrator often renders these adults uniquely susceptible to financial exploitation,” it said. “It is the District Attorney’s duty to safeguard and protect the lives of our citizens, especially those who cannot do so by themselves because they are elderly, infirm or otherwise vulnerable.”
“The Northampton County District Attorney’s office will hold all persons who accept and serve in a position of trust accountable for their actions when such actions result in the exploitation of others,” it added.
Piazza, who is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12, faces a potential prison sentence.