The two spent the woman’s monthly retirement check as if it was their own, and spent money from the woman’s checking account for their own benefit, Pinellas deputies said.

LARGO – A Largo husband and wife are accused of stealing more than $300,000 from the woman’s elderly, disabled mother, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Stephanie B. Bontempo, 69, and Samuel M. Bontempo, 73, of Largo were each charged with one count of Exploitation of an Elderly or Disabled Adult.

Deputies said their investigation began in September 2017 after family members identified suspicious activity involving the financial portfolio of the victim who was 95-years-old at the time.

During the course of the investigation, detectives said they learned that the woman’s daughter, Stephanie Bontempo, and her husband, Samuel Bontempo, moved the elderly victim into their home in 2013 after the
woman was diagnosed with dementia and suffered a medical episode.

The Bontempos agreed to provide full-time care and assistance to the woman and took over her finances. Medical records documented that she was disabled and lacked the capacity to consent shortly after moving in with the Bontempos.

Evidence obtained by detectives revealed that over the course of four years, the Bontempos liquidated multiple retirement financial assets of the woman’s, spent her monthly retirement check as if it was their
own, and spent money from the woman’s checking account for their own benefit.

Detectives said they also learned that the Bontempos used the woman’s identity to open new and re-establish existing credit cards, took out cash advances, and maxed out credit limits that damaged the woman’s credit.

The Bontempos were living off the woman’s money and used some of the money to try and start new businesses. Detectives estimate the woman suffered a total financial loss of about $321,570.

Photo shows Samuel Bontempo, left, and Stephanie Bontempo.

Pinellas Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News

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