Abandoned and Destitute: A Holocaust Survivor’s Heartbreaking Story

UPDATE


Jul 28, 2023 12:25 PM CDT

A woman in Florida has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison and ordered to pay $2.8 million in restitution after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Peaches Stergo, 36, deceived an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, draining his life savings to fulfill her fraudulent schemes. Prosecutors had sought a longer sentence, but the victim’s heartbreaking letter to the court highlighted the immense impact of the crime on his life as a survivor. The victim, who lost his parents in the Holocaust, arrived in the US in his 20s and spent the next six decades diligently building a successful business and family. He expressed his shock and betrayal at ending his days “penniless and betrayed.” This case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of romance scams and the need to protect vulnerable individuals. NBC News reports the FBI’s New York field office played a significant role in bringing the perpetrator to justice.

Jan 26, 2023 7:50 AM CST

The story began with an 80-something Holocaust survivor in Manhattan seeking companionship and a young woman from Florida who claimed to require financial assistance. This initial connection turned into a prolonged romance scam, resulting in the victim losing a staggering $2.8 million. Peaches Stergo, 36, from Champions Gate, Florida, callously exploited the senior citizen’s vulnerability, deceiving him out of his life savings. The US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York announced her arrest, charging her with wire fraud. Michael J. Driscoll, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, strongly condemned Stergo’s actions, emphasizing her exploitation of an elderly individual who simply sought companionship.

According to prosecutors, Stergo met the victim on a dating website and subsequently requested money in 2017. She falsely claimed to need $25,000 to pay her attorney, who allegedly withheld funds from a non-existent injury settlement, as reported by CNN. Over the next four years, Stergo continued to lie to the victim, convincing him to write her 62 checks totaling over $2.8 million. To maintain the deception, she even impersonated a bank employee, fabricating emails and invoices to reassure the victim when he grew suspicious. In the end, Stergo’s ill-gotten gains funded a luxurious lifestyle, including properties, vehicles, vacations, and expensive jewelry. The victim’s son uncovered the fraud in 2021, when his father disclosed the depletion of his life savings. Stergo may face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. This case sheds light on the prevalence of scams and the immense personal toll they can exact. (Read more scam stories.)