Crime & Safety

Man Admits Bilking Senior of Nearly $1 Million

The vicitim suffered from dementia and terminal cancer at the time.

An area man has admitted he stole nearly $1 million and the family home of a now-deceased Red Bank senior citizen diagnosed with dementia and terminal cancer by posing as her nephew, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

James J. Demitro, 43, “Anthony Tatalia,” of Matawan, admitted his crimes in front of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, Pr. J.S.C., pleading guilty Thursday to the following charges: second-degree attempted impersonation; five counts of second-degree theft by deception, and two counts of third-degree theft by deception.

Demitro admitted that he pretended to be the nephew of a then-87-year-old Red Bank woman with dementia and terminal cancer when he stole just under $1 million and the family home in which she lived since 1925 — a home built by her father and grandfather.

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Demitro was arrested on August 19, 2011 following a five-month investigation conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Monmouth County Adult Protective Services (APS) related to suspicious real estate, financial and estate planning transactions undertaken by him.

The investigation led to the charge that Demitro obtained the near $1 million by deception from the victim while posing as her nephew. Demitro also allegedly enlisted the services of multiple attorneys to prepare legal instruments to further his scheme to defraud his terminally-ill victim.

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Demitro admitted he coordinated the preparation of a deed transferring ownership of the victim’s Red Bank home to himself for $1, and the preparation of a last will and testament for the victim naming him as full beneficiary and executor of the estate.

On the day of his arrest, two bank accounts maintained by Demitro containing approximately $600,000 taken from the victim were frozen. Also seized was a luxury Italian sports car, a Ferrari Spyder, that was earlier purchased by Demitro with approximately $150,000 taken from the victim.

In accordance with a plea agreement, Demitro now faces a custodial sentence of eight years in New Jersey State Prison with a 3 1⁄2-year period of parole ineligibility.

Demitro will also consent to the probate of the victim’s genuine last will and testament from 2005. He will consent to the forfeiture of the monies in the frozen bank accounts and the Ferrari Spyder and execute a deed turning the real estate back over to the victim’s estate. All the forfeiture proceeds will be returned to the victim’s estate.

He is scheduled for sentencing on Friday, June 7, in front of Judge Vernoia.

The case is assigned to Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Andrew S. Fried of the Office’s Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau. Demitro is represented by P.J. Nicola, of Atlantic County.


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