Trial begins for trio charged with bilking elderly Emmaus woman
Authorities say Queen Hersh died of broken heart after finding out about thefts
Trial is underway for Penelope Veronikis, left, and her daughter Barbara… (MANUEL GAMIZ JR., THE MORNING…)
Authorities say an elderly Emmaus woman died of a broken heart after finding out virtually everything she owned had been stolen from her, but attorneys for the three people charged with the alleged thefts insist their clients didn't steal "a dime."
Two of the three defendants, one of whom had owned the former Emmaus Diner, cared for Queen E. Hersh, 90, and benefited from her generosity but didn't take any money without her knowledge, the attorneys said Wednesday during opening statements in the trial. The third defendant had almost no involvement at all, her attorney argued.
Two of the three defendants, one of whom had owned the former Emmaus Diner, cared for Queen E. Hersh, 90, and benefited from her generosity but didn't take any money without her knowledge, the attorneys said Wednesday during opening statements in the trial. The third defendant had almost no involvement at all, her attorney argued.
Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney Charles Gallagher told the jury that Hersh died in December 2008, months after she received a foreclosure notice in the mail and learned she had been taken for more than $260,000.
Authorities say Penelope Veronikis, 51, masterminded the thefts, using some of the money for a tummy tuck and a breast lift, credit card payments and department store trips. Also charged are her daughter, Barbara Paxos, 28, and former diner owner Hristos "Chris" Dimou, 51.
Veronikis also allegedly changed Hersh's will to make herself the sole beneficiary, and opened and maxed out two credit cards in Hersh's name, authorities said.
Police say in December 2006, Veronikis also sold Hersh's vacation home in the Poconos for $170,000 without Hersh knowing. Authorities say $135,000 from the sale of the Poconos home was deposited by Veronikis into a bank account registered to her daughter, Paxos. With the money, Veronikis reportedly got plastic surgery and her then-boyfriend, Dimou, bought a 1974 muscle car from Veronikis' brother. Investigators also allege that Veronikis cashed Hersh's monthly Social Security checks.
But Veronikis' attorney, George Heitczman, told the jury his client "loved Queen" and "stole nothing" from her. Heitczman said Veronikis took care of Hersh by bathing her, taking her to the doctor and the hairdresser and the two developed a mother-daughter relationship.
He said Hersh became very generous with Veronikis and told Veronikis she could sell her house in the Poconos and use the proceeds for plastic surgery. Heitczman said Hersh also allowed Veronikis to open credit cards in Hersh's name as long as she paid down the balances.
"Queen gave Penny a lot of money — $250,000," Heitczman said. "We will prove that."
Paxos' attorney, John Griffen, said his client's only role in the case is that money allegedly from Hersh was deposited into a joint account Paxos shared with her mother. He said even if the jury finds those funds were illegally obtained and deposited by Veronikis, Paxos can't be held criminally responsible just because her name is also on the account.
"We're not going to just convict her because of allegations raised against her mother," Griffen said. "I'm going to ask you not to make that mistake."
Dimou's attorney, James Heidecker, said any money Dimou may have received was from Veronikis, not Hersh herself, so he wasn't aware how or under what circumstances she obtained it.
"Somehow, he should have known it was tainted money?" Heidecker asked. "He took not a dime from Queen Hersh."
Heidecker said Hersh was a regular at the diner Dimou had owned and said Dimou fed her twice a day without asking for any money.
Authorities say Penelope Veronikis, 51, masterminded the thefts, using some of the money for a tummy tuck and a breast lift, credit card payments and department store trips. Also charged are her daughter, Barbara Paxos, 28, and former diner owner Hristos "Chris" Dimou, 51.
Veronikis also allegedly changed Hersh's will to make herself the sole beneficiary, and opened and maxed out two credit cards in Hersh's name, authorities said.
Police say in December 2006, Veronikis also sold Hersh's vacation home in the Poconos for $170,000 without Hersh knowing. Authorities say $135,000 from the sale of the Poconos home was deposited by Veronikis into a bank account registered to her daughter, Paxos. With the money, Veronikis reportedly got plastic surgery and her then-boyfriend, Dimou, bought a 1974 muscle car from Veronikis' brother. Investigators also allege that Veronikis cashed Hersh's monthly Social Security checks.
But Veronikis' attorney, George Heitczman, told the jury his client "loved Queen" and "stole nothing" from her. Heitczman said Veronikis took care of Hersh by bathing her, taking her to the doctor and the hairdresser and the two developed a mother-daughter relationship.
He said Hersh became very generous with Veronikis and told Veronikis she could sell her house in the Poconos and use the proceeds for plastic surgery. Heitczman said Hersh also allowed Veronikis to open credit cards in Hersh's name as long as she paid down the balances.
"Queen gave Penny a lot of money — $250,000," Heitczman said. "We will prove that."
Paxos' attorney, John Griffen, said his client's only role in the case is that money allegedly from Hersh was deposited into a joint account Paxos shared with her mother. He said even if the jury finds those funds were illegally obtained and deposited by Veronikis, Paxos can't be held criminally responsible just because her name is also on the account.
"We're not going to just convict her because of allegations raised against her mother," Griffen said. "I'm going to ask you not to make that mistake."
Dimou's attorney, James Heidecker, said any money Dimou may have received was from Veronikis, not Hersh herself, so he wasn't aware how or under what circumstances she obtained it.
"Somehow, he should have known it was tainted money?" Heidecker asked. "He took not a dime from Queen Hersh."
Heidecker said Hersh was a regular at the diner Dimou had owned and said Dimou fed her twice a day without asking for any money.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting.
Your comment will be held for approval by the blog owner.