Sep 20, 2024
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A Rochester woman was arrested on a variety of fraud and identity theft charges after allegedly stealing her elderly landlord's personal information and using it to defraud her of more than $250,000. Prosecutors say Nahtahna Castner, 45, lived on one side of a duplex while the victim, who was in her 90s, lived on the other. Between July 2020 and February 2023, Castner allegedly gained the victim's trust to get into her home and then accessed her personal information and banking information. Castner is accused of using that access to withdraw money from ATMs, conduct wire transfers from the victim's accounts into her own accounts, and make purchases with the victim's debit card. She also allegedly opened at least three credit cards in the victim's name. Prosecutors say Castner ultimately defrauded the victim out of $252,672.97 from two bank accounts, using the money on a trip to Hawaii, hotels, car repairs, and insurance and car payments. The victim had $99.59 left in her bank accounts shortly before her death, prosecutors said. The victim's family became suspicious after she was hospitalized on January 6, 2022. Prosecutors said family members weren't notified until days later. When they got to the hospital, Castner was there claiming to be her granddaughter and making medical decisions on her behalf. The victim's family offered to pay Castner for her help, but she declined, saying she did it “out of the kindness of her heart,” according to prosecutors. The victim's son tried to get money to pay her anyway, at which point he discovered the state of the victim's bank accounts. Prosecutors said Castner moved out of the duplex without notice and never contacted the victim's family again. The victim died on February 23, 2023. Castner was arrested and charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine if convicted.
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