Federal prosecutors have charged that a Holocaust survivor’s $2,800,000 life savings were stolen by a woman he met through a dating app.
Peaches ‘Alice’ Stergo, age 36, allegedly perpetrated the fraud over several years, leaving the anonymous 87-year-old victim so poor that he was forced to leave his Manhattan apartment.
Meanwhile, according to a federal indictment issued on Wednesday, Stergo lived like a queen, purchasing a $300,000 property in a wealthy gated community in Florida, as well as Rolex watches, a boat, two cars, and numerous other luxury items, using 62 checks handed out by the oblivious senior.
Stergo, who used the identity “Alice” when communicating with her elderly target, was detained on Friday by federal officials in her native state on accusations of wire fraud.
She faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, and authorities with the Justice Department announced Thursday that she will be moved to New York to face these allegations.
Peaches’Stergo, 36, reportedly perpetrated the fraud over several years, leaving the 87-year-old victim so poor that he was forced to leave his Manhattan home.
Meanwhile, according to an indictment released on Wednesday, Stergo lived like a queen, purchasing a $300,000 property in a premium beach community in Florida, as well as Rolex watches, a boat, and two automobiles 
Assistant Director of the FBI’s New York Field Office Michael J. Driscoll announced the charges on Wednesday, stating that the suspect ‘callously preyed on a senior citizen seeking companionship, robbing him of his life savings’
The indictment detailed on Stergo’s alleged schemes, which, according to authorities, began in 2017 when she told a victim she needed a loan to pay off a lawyer so she could receive a vehicle accident claim.
Officials initially stated that Stergo only requested $25,000; however, the number rapidly grew as the federal fraud suspect continued to request money, stating that the funds were still being held up.
When the guy became suspicious, the woman allegedly forged bank documents and emails to convince him she was speaking the truth, going so far as to impersonate a bank official and send a bogus email to reassure him that he would be reimbursed.
The dad allegedly lied for five years before confessing to his son that he had given away everything after being evicted from his New York City residence.
Here is the indictment:
The man’s son would then notify authorities that his father, labeled by officials as a ’87-year-old Holocaust survivor,’ had been victimized.
Prosecutors wrote that this incident occurred in October 2021, by which time the victim had already paid 62 checks totaling $2.8 million to Stergo.
All of the checks were transferred into Stergo’s accounts, according to the indictment, and she used them to fund luxurious travels and the purchase of a property in a gated bayside community, all while the senior slipped into poverty awaiting repayment.
Federal prosecutors described the magnitude of Stergo’s alleged crimes in an eight-page indictment, noting that she used the monies to purchase a property as well as “numerous cars,” including a Chevy Corvette and Suburban, each of which cost approximately $60,000 brand new.
“She purchased a home in a gated community, a condominium, a boat, and numerous cars, including a Corvette and a Suburban, with the millions she received from the fraud,” the indictment states.
According to the indictment, Stergo met the anonymous victim, a resident of Manhattan at the time, on a dating website approximately six or seven years ago.
»Holocaust veteran, 87, is defrauded by a Florida lady of $2.8 million in life savings«