Father-daughter duo arrested for scamming NY woman, 92, out of her life savings: AG

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A father and daughter were indicted for allegedly stealing the life savings of a victim in the Hudson Valley, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

Frank Whittaker, 56, and his daughter Christine Ellsworth, 38, were arrested after stealing from a 92-year-old victim whom they initially gained trust from under the pretense of providing lawn maintenance and household assistance, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.

Whittaker and Ellsworth allegedly were able to gain access to the victim’s checkbook and financial accounts.

“Scammers who manipulate vulnerable seniors are stealing savings that took a lifetime of hard work to earn,” James said. “Instead of fulfilling their promises to care for this victim and her home, Frank Whittaker and Christine Ellsworth abused her trust and stole her life savings.”

According to court documents, the duo gained the victim's trust in 2021 while assisting her with self-care and household tasks. Whittaker then allegedly persuaded the victim to grant him Power of Attorney over her affairs and included himself as POA on multiple bank and annuity accounts, with Ellsworth named as the successor POA.

Despite having POA, Whittaker was not legally allowed to spend the victim’s money for personal use.

Over the following year, Whittaker and Ellsworth allegedly wrote themselves over $49,000 in checks and transferred more than $230,000 from the victim’s bank and investment accounts into their own account.

The stolen funds were spent on a new 2021 GMC Sierra pickup truck, dining at local restaurants, shopping at Walmart, jewelry, florists, and other personal expenses, according to prosecutors. The duo also allegedly made numerous cash withdrawals, including at ATMs located at Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona and the Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs.

Whittaker and Ellsworth face grand larceny charges for the theft. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.