Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Home Health Care Aide Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Her Employer
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Cassie Tillinghast, 32, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of bank fraud, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, two years supervised release to include six months home detention, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $6,464.89 by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2015, the defendant was hired as an in-home health care aide to assist with the care of Victim 1’s elderly mother in the home of Victim 1 and her husband. Subsequently, Tillinghast fraudulently applied for a Discover credit card in the name of Victim 1, and between November 25, 2015, and December 21, 2015, the defendant fraudulently used the Discover credit card in Victim 1’s name at retail establishments in the Western District of New York to obtain goods and merchandise. Discover Financial Services suffered a total loss of $6,462.89.
In addition, Tillinghast manipulated Victim 1 into buying her a truck, motorcycle, house, jewelry, and giving her cash. The defendant also convinced Victim 1 to change her will, making Tillinghast the main beneficiary of her estate, change her two life insurance policies designating Tillinghast and her children as beneficiaries of those policies, and execute a health care proxy giving Tillinghast the ability to make health care decisions.
At the time the defendant committed this offense, she was on probation for Attempted Grand Larceny in Third Degree.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Raymond Moss, Boston Field Division.