Attorney: Firefighter Allegedly Took $80K

Some $80,000 of a 94-year-old woman’s money went unaccounted for after a city firefighter got control of her finances, the woman’s attorney said Thursday.

The attorney, Americo Carchia (pictured), appeared in probate court at 200 Orange St. with the woman to seek to become conservator of her finances in the wake of an alleged theft of her money over a period of years by the firefighter, who is 31 years old and works out of the Woodward Avenue firehouse.

Probate Judge Jack Keyes granted Carchia the conservatorship during the five-minute proceeding Thursday morning. Keyes had previously granted temporary custody of her finances to Carchia based on a phone-conference proceeding. He needed an in-person meeting to make the decision permanent.

The woman first told her tale of woe to firefighters responding to a medical call at her home earlier this month. She told them that a firefighter had gotten to know her on a previous call, obtained control of her finances, then stole lots of her money over time. The firefighters reported the matter to the police, who are conducting what commander of detectives Lt. Tony Reyes described as an ​“extensive investigation.” After police raided the 31-year-old firefighter’s locker and retrieved financial documents (read about that in this story), Fire Chief Allyn Wright has placed the firefighter on paid administrative leave pending the investigation’s conclusion.

The firefighter had obtained power of attorney over the woman, giving him access to her finances. After the police investigation began, attorney Carchia was enlisted to take over.

At this point, about $80,000 appears to have gone missing from the woman’s accounts without any sign that the money was spent on her behalf, Carchia said Thursday.

“The records show that the money was taken,” remarked Carchia, who is still researching the matter. ​“It does not appear that it went to her.” The woman had already paid off her Fair Haven Heights home and obtained any significant possessions before the firefighter met her and obtained power of attorney, he said.

Carchia said he has handled about 20 cases of similar thefts from elderly people over the years. About half involved family members, the other half friends or families or health care workers.

The woman appeared in court Thursday wearing a purple knit sweater, a pink floral dress, and sneakers with Velcro straps. Detective Lucille Roach accompanied her, filling in for Detective Rose Reid, who is conducting the police investigation.

“I had a neighbor. That was a bad one,” Carchia said. ​“I have not had a firefighter. I have not had a public servant. A public servant is worse; people put their faith in a public servant. You’re anticipating help from them. They take that confidence from you. It’s the worst thing that can happen.”

Police advised that the woman not to engage in press interviews at this point in the investigation.

She did speak with Judge Keyes after Carchia and Roche escorted her to the front of four rows of wooden seats.

“I’m sorry your honor,” Carchia said as Keyes began speaking. ​“She has a problem hearing.”

“You can’t get mad at someone for not hearing,” Keyes responded. He pointed to a chair right next to his desk and the woman sat on it. She was then able to hear. Roche stood beside her.

Keyes noted that on Sept. 11, he had temporarily granted Carchia authority to gain access to her finances so he could freeze the accounts.

“Do you want him to stay as your conservator?” Keyes asked.

“Yes,” the woman responded.

“Do you want him to have authority to handle your money?

“Yes.”

“You do not want the prior arrangement with” the firefighter any longer?

“No.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

“Are you satisfied” with Carchia’s representation?

“Yes.”

Judge Keyes (pictured in his chambers right before the hearing) then spoke about the need for the attorney to post a bond to cover all the woman’s assets in the case he ever gets sued for theft or negligence. He promised to obtain $120,000, which he said would cover all her assets.

“That’s it,” the ever-amiable judge informed the woman. ​“Unless you want to stay and argue with somebody.”

The woman chuckled. ​“Thank you very much, judge,” she said on her way out.