Prosecutor: Five Indicted on Charges of Defrauding Elderly Woman of More than $1.4 Million

Five people and a business partner have been indicted on charges that they stole more than $1.4 million from an elderly family member while that family member was under their care, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Thursday.

The indictment charges Vincent Amato (nephew), 57, of Lincroft, Concetta Amato (sister), 90, of Freehold, Lorrie Martin (Vincent Amato’s business partner), 55, of Matawan, Maria Sanzillo (niece), 59, of Staten Island, Peter Sanzillo (nephew), 72, of Staten Island, and Alia Alquran (great-niece), 31, of Florida, with: second- degree theft of moveable property, second-degree theft by failure to make required disposition, second-degree theft of identity, and second-degree conspiracy to commit theft of movable property.

An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Colts Neck Police Department revealed that after the victim’s husband passed in November of 2012, Concetta and her son Vincent were given power of attorney and took control of the victim’s finances, due to the victim’s diminished mental capacities.

Between September 2013 and July 2017, the five family members, along with Vincent Amato’s business partner Lorrie Martin, defrauded the victim of the majority of her estate.