An Albany man has pleaded guilty to stealing over $230,000 from an elderly victim. Devin Zielinski’s co-defendant in this caretaker scheme, Amber Diacetis, a 31-year-old Albany woman, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the third degree last year.
The victim, a now 87-year-old New York state pensioner, met Diacetis through an online service. Diacetis then introduced the victim to Zielinski and the two then schemed to convince the victim to let them become his live-in caregivers.
The victim, whose wife had died years earlier and had no other direct support, received a monthly income of $3,526 for his pension and $2,138 from Social Security. The defendants persuaded the victim to allow them to control his affairs, including his finances.
Investigators found that the defendants did not pay the victim’s mortgage, property taxes or other bills for four years, causing the victim’s home to be placed in foreclosure, his vehicle to be repossessed and his electricity to be turned off. Instead, the defendants stole the money for their personal entertainment. The victim was unaware his bills were not being paid due to his isolation and condition.
From January 2018 to August 2023, a total of $338,000 in pension and Social Security income was deposited into the victim’s bank accounts. The investigation revealed that the defendants made more than $230,000 in cash withdrawals from the victim’s accounts.
In addition to the alleged theft, the defendants’ actions caused the victim to live in deplorable conditions: the toilet and shower in the home were inoperable, animal feces were on the floor, and the victim was found in need of care. He was subsequently provided with the necessary treatment and services and is no longer living in his house.
Zielinski remained in the home after the victim was removed and foreclosure proceedings began. Zielinski currently resides at the property in a squatter capacity.
Zielinski pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the third degree before Judge Jennifer G. Sober in Rensselaer County Court. His sentencing is scheduled for June 18. Diacetis is due back in court for sentencing on May 20.
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