Posted on Sep 8, 2015
"Oswego County couple convicted of stealing over $200,000 from elderly retired Air Force vet"
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From: Syracuse.com
OSWEGO, N.Y. -- An Oswego County couple face up to 20 years in prison after they were convicted on all counts Tuesday of stealing more than $200,000 from the first female full colonel in U.S. military history.
Morgan Tetro and David Tetro Jr., both of Minetto, were convicted in Oswego County Court of stealing the money from 85-year-old Irene Dennison, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced.
Irene Dennison served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1982. She was pivotal in rescuing U.S. Senator John McCain in 1973, when the senator was a prisoner of war being held by the North Vietnamese Army, Schneiderman announced. At one point in her nearly 25-year career, Dennison oversaw more than 3,000 troops in Germany.
"Stealing from anyone is wrong; stealing from an elderly woman who spent decades serving her country is abhorrent," Schneiderman said in a statement.
The Tetros met Dennison in 1997 when Dennison rented a home to David Tetro Jr. They became friends and in the following years, became the elderly woman's primary care providers, managed her finances and eventually gained power of attorney.
From 2009 to 2011, the Tetros diverted thousands of dollars from Dennison's bank accounts to other accounts.
They lost more than $140,000 of the stolen money gambling at Turning Stone Casino. The rest of the stolen money paid for alcohol, eBay and PayPal purchases, Victoria's Secret purchases, hairpieces for David Tetro Jr. and other expenses.
During that time, Morgan Tetro also sold more than a dozen properties Dennison owned in New York, Florida and Maryland, Schneiderman announced.
"This decision should serve as a reminder that those who scam innocent victims will be brought to justice," State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico said in a statement. "This couple took advantage of an elderly woman, using the veteran's hard-earned money to fund personal expenses and gambling habits."
The thefts were discovered when David Tetro Jr. applied for Medicaid benefits and his listed income didn't match his expenses, especially the gambling debts, the attorney general's office said at the time of their October 2014 arrests.
The two falsely obtained Medicaid benefits by concealing the stolen money. David Tetro Jr. stole more than $15,000 from the Oswego County Department of Social Services, while Morgan Tetro stole more than $7,000.
Morgan Tetro was also convicted of not paying state taxes on the her fraudulent income, to the tune of $3,000 between 2010 and 2011.
Both Morgan and David Tetro were convicted of second-degree grand larceny and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
Morgan Tetro was additionally convicted of fourth-degree welfare fraud and two counts of fourth-degree tax fraud, all felonies.
David Tetro Jr. was additionally convicted of third-degree welfare fraud.
Both will be sentenced before Judge Walter W. Hafner on Oct. 8. David Tetro Jr. faces 7 1/3 to 20 years in prison, while Morgan Tetro faces 10 to 20 years in prison.
http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/09/oswego_county_couple_convicted_of_stealing_over_200000_from_elderly_retired_air.html
OSWEGO, N.Y. -- An Oswego County couple face up to 20 years in prison after they were convicted on all counts Tuesday of stealing more than $200,000 from the first female full colonel in U.S. military history.
Morgan Tetro and David Tetro Jr., both of Minetto, were convicted in Oswego County Court of stealing the money from 85-year-old Irene Dennison, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced.
Irene Dennison served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1982. She was pivotal in rescuing U.S. Senator John McCain in 1973, when the senator was a prisoner of war being held by the North Vietnamese Army, Schneiderman announced. At one point in her nearly 25-year career, Dennison oversaw more than 3,000 troops in Germany.
"Stealing from anyone is wrong; stealing from an elderly woman who spent decades serving her country is abhorrent," Schneiderman said in a statement.
The Tetros met Dennison in 1997 when Dennison rented a home to David Tetro Jr. They became friends and in the following years, became the elderly woman's primary care providers, managed her finances and eventually gained power of attorney.
From 2009 to 2011, the Tetros diverted thousands of dollars from Dennison's bank accounts to other accounts.
They lost more than $140,000 of the stolen money gambling at Turning Stone Casino. The rest of the stolen money paid for alcohol, eBay and PayPal purchases, Victoria's Secret purchases, hairpieces for David Tetro Jr. and other expenses.
During that time, Morgan Tetro also sold more than a dozen properties Dennison owned in New York, Florida and Maryland, Schneiderman announced.
"This decision should serve as a reminder that those who scam innocent victims will be brought to justice," State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico said in a statement. "This couple took advantage of an elderly woman, using the veteran's hard-earned money to fund personal expenses and gambling habits."
The thefts were discovered when David Tetro Jr. applied for Medicaid benefits and his listed income didn't match his expenses, especially the gambling debts, the attorney general's office said at the time of their October 2014 arrests.
The two falsely obtained Medicaid benefits by concealing the stolen money. David Tetro Jr. stole more than $15,000 from the Oswego County Department of Social Services, while Morgan Tetro stole more than $7,000.
Morgan Tetro was also convicted of not paying state taxes on the her fraudulent income, to the tune of $3,000 between 2010 and 2011.
Both Morgan and David Tetro were convicted of second-degree grand larceny and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
Morgan Tetro was additionally convicted of fourth-degree welfare fraud and two counts of fourth-degree tax fraud, all felonies.
David Tetro Jr. was additionally convicted of third-degree welfare fraud.
Both will be sentenced before Judge Walter W. Hafner on Oct. 8. David Tetro Jr. faces 7 1/3 to 20 years in prison, while Morgan Tetro faces 10 to 20 years in prison.
http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/09/oswego_county_couple_convicted_of_stealing_over_200000_from_elderly_retired_air.html
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
This sounds like my jackass BIL who took care of my FIL who was a Vietnam Veteran. They lived in a small 3 bedroom house and his $5000/mo retirement and stipends was plenty for their situation. However, the BIL was spending money on frivolous things and probably drugs. The VA revoked his POA and paid expenses on the FIL's behalf.
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Hum what to do with them Dammm it I can NOT post it but if you are on the same Anger wave then you can only imagine what I would do with this two Idiots Enough Said
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Jail is too nice for them. I vote they get to replace the targets at the machine gun ranges on Ft. Riley while under live fire. But that's just MY opinion. They could do this with Bergdhal, and save the taxpayers a lot of money and continue their service to the nation.
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