Holocaust Survivor Swindled £2.2M, Fraudster Peaches Stergo Sentenced to Prison
Peaches Stergo, a heartless scammer, has been sentenced to prison for defrauding an elderly Holocaust survivor of £2.2 million. The 36-year-old woman met the 87-year-old man on a dating website in the United States and proceeded to bleed him dry financially over several years. Stergo lived a life of luxury with the ill-gotten money, while her victim lost his flat.
Stergo, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud earlier this year, has now been handed a 51-month prison sentence by US District Judge Edgardo Ramos. In addition to the prison term, she has been ordered to pay back the full amount she defrauded from the elderly man.
According to prosecutors in New York, Stergo began borrowing money from the victim, claiming it was necessary to access funds from a legal settlement. However, there was never any settlement, and she kept extorting more money from him, threatening that her account would be frozen if he didn’t comply. This cruel manipulation allowed Stergo to live a life of extravagance, purchasing a home in a gated community, staying in luxurious hotels, and buying expensive items like designer clothing, a Corvette, Rolex watches, and gold bars.
The court heard how Stergo mercilessly mocked her victim through texts sent to her real lover. In one message, she callously stated that the elderly man loved her, followed by a mocking lol. She was fully aware of the detrimental impact she had on the victim, as she taunted him about being broke and having nothing left to pawn.
Judge Ramos took strong action against Stergo, not only sentencing her to prison but also ordering her to forfeit her home and more than 100 luxury items she had purchased with the fraudulently obtained funds.
US Attorney Damian Williams commented on the case, highlighting the despicable nature of Stergo’s actions: Peaches Stergo stole the life savings from an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who was just looking for companionship. This conduct is sick – and sad.
It is vital to address such cases of financial exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals from heartless fraudsters like Peaches Stergo. The sentence imposed by Judge Ramos serves as a reminder that such actions will not go unpunished. Justice has been brought to the elderly victim, helping him find some solace after being taken advantage of for so long.
