Man Stole 93-Year-Old Uncle's Life Savings, DA Says

A Pen Argyl man depleted the life savings of his 93-year-old uncle, who once resided at Cedarbrook nursing home in South Whitehall, by using a power of attorney and converting property and money for his own use, according to a release from the Lehigh County District Attorney's office.

Scott Lee Bartholomew, 52, of 115 Acker St., Pen Argyl, was charged with stealing from his uncle from January 2006 to June 2012. 

An investigation by South Whitehall Township police and the Institute for Protective Services at Temple University determined Bartholomew allegedly diverted at least $217,498 from his uncle, the release said. 

As a result, his uncle's home went into foreclosure and his uncle was placed in a veterans home in Scranton, the release said.

Bartholomew is charged with:

• Four counts of theft by unlawful taking 
• Three counts of theft by deception, 
• Five counts of receiving stolen property, 
• One count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds 
• One count of access device fraud
• One count of forgery
• Two counts of securing execution of documents by deception

An affidavit of probable cause was filed by South Whitehall police investigator Mike Sorrentino. According to the release, the affidavit says:

—Sorrentino conducted numerous interviews with agencies and individuals since December 2012, when investigators learned Bartholomew was acting with power of attorney for his uncle.

—Bartholomew did not pay the required $6,050 for his uncle's care at Cedarbrook nursing home from March 2011 through April 2011. 

—With the help of certified fraud examiners from the Institute for Protective Services, police discovered multiple fraudulent uses of his uncle's money.

—Bartholomew gained control of his uncle's finances, diverting money to buy vehicles and Internet items, to make cash withdrawals, and to pay an acquaintance's legal fees, tax bills, cell phones and cell phone plans, to buy meals and entertainment for himself and others, and to pay operational fees as an owner/operator of a trucking company. None of the spending was reimbursed to his uncle's account.

—Bartholomew converted his uncle’s savings account, an insurance policy, retirement income, real estate, motor vehicles, personal property, and savings bonds to his own use.

—Bartholomew obtained a home equity line of credit and converted almost $133,526 to his personal use. Investigators allege that almost $83,973 was taken from his uncle's checking account.

—Bartholomew deceptively used money obtained from the equity in his uncle's residence. The property ultimately was placed into foreclosure.

Because of the foreclosure of the home and the loss of his life savings, his uncle was placed in a veterans center in Scranton, according to the release.

Charges do not indicate conviction.