L. Saucon Woman Sentenced to Prison for Theft from Mom’s Estate

A Lower Saucon Township woman was handed a state prison sentence last week for criminally misusing the power of attorney she had over her 86-year-old mother’s estate in order to steal from it.

On Tuesday, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta’s office announced that 54-year-old Alyssa Piazza was sentenced Dec. 12 to serve 58 to 116 months in state prison for financial exploitation of an older adult and other charges on which she was convicted by a jury last month.

“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 DA’s office said in early November.

According to a source familiar with the case, Piazza stole more than $200,000 from the estate, including money from the sale of her mother’s home in the Society Hill development.

“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,” Baratta’s office said in a news release Tuesday. “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 action results in the exploitation of others.”