BENTON, Ill. – A Southern Illinois man admitted to stealing $330,000 from an elder in a scheme that began with him posing as a lawn care worker.
On Tuesday, Edward L. Stief, Jr., 42, from Effingham County, admitted guilt to three federal offenses: One count each of wire fraud, mail fraud, and illegal monetary transactions involving criminally obtained property.
According to court documents, Stief met the victim in May 2023 and became acquainted to him while offering lawn care and landscaping services.
Soon after, Stief made false representations to persuade the victim to designate him as his Financial and Healthcare Power of Attorney. Subsequently, Stief gained access to the victim’s bank accounts as a signatory.
In August 2023, Stief influenced the victim to liquidate life insurance policies and redirected the majority of the victim’s funds into his own bank accounts. Stief also appropriated the victim’s collection of gold coins, gold necklaces, and watches, as noted in his plea deal.
According to investigators, in October 2023, Stief managed to convince the victim to leave a nursing home facility and come under his direct care. While under Stief’s supervision, the victim’s medical needs were neglected.
“The defendant misrepresented himself as a reliable helper by offering lawn care services to earn the victim’s trust, only to manipulate that trust,” stated U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft in a news release. “He misled this susceptible victim to exit a nursing home under false pretenses of care, solely to gain financially. We are determined to chase down such financial predators to safeguard communities in southern Illinois.”
“After dedicating their lives to hard work, our seniors should have the right to feel secure. However, offenders like this defendant betray that trust, robbing not only their money but also their sense of safety,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson. “FBI Springfield and our associates will persist in holding those responsible for elder fraud accountable for their heartless and reprehensible actions.”
Stief is expected to be sentenced on Dec. 2 and could face up to 50 years behind bars with his convictions.
