$800k Stolen From Elderly Victim Over 10 Years: New Haven PD

NEW HAVEN, CT — A nearly 9-month New Haven Police investigation found that two women stole more than $800,000 from an elderly victim over 10 years and controlled nearly every aspect of her life, including locking the woman’s own daughter, according to police.

Sandra “Sweets” Pelkey and Mary Jeannine Benedetto were arrested and charged as far back as the state’s statute of limitations law allows. An arrest warrant alleged that Pelkey, 71, stole more than $22,000 and that Benedetto, 60, stole nearly $600,000. Both were charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy.

The elderly victim died April 5.

Police also came upon a West Haven man during the course of their investigation that may also be a victim, said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman. The man had more than $97,000 deposited into Benedetto’s bank account over a 10 year period. The man told police that that a portion of proceeds from a sold Florida property made it into Benedetto and Pelkey’s hands. He also wrote checks to Benedetto for credit card payments, Hartman said. The information has been turned over to West Haven Police.

Part of the police investigation centered around financial activity where Benedetto would withdraw money from the victim’s checking account, quickly deposit into her own account and then make withdrawals at Mohegan Sun ATMs, Hartman said.

Both Benedetto and Pelkey were Players Club members at the Mohegan Sun casino. Pelkey lost over $16,000 gambling there as of August 2017 and Benedetto lost more than $751,000, police said.

The long investigation involved several detectives and multiple search warrants for financial records, said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman. Detective Rosalee Reid was one of the primary detectives on the case.

“Such victims lose faith in the world and the system that was supposed to protect them, for even if the perpetrators are caught and ordered to pay restitution, many offenders use any means necessary to avoid paying, often liquidating their assets and hiding them out of reach or declaring bankruptcy,” Hartman said.

Police began investigating after a banker called June 8, 2017 and told police that a woman who lived on Temple Street was being held captive.

Police responded and found an elderly woman who seemed okay, but puzzled, said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman.

A Bank of America officer and the woman’s wealth management advisor advised police that she may have been financially exploited after some strange activity in her accounts.

The woman had written checks worth $50,000 to a woman named Mary Jeannie Benedetto and there were questions about $32,000 that was used to buy a red convertible BMW despite the client no longer driving, Hartman said.

The victim told police Benedetto was her carpenter and paid her to renovate her home and that Sandy Pelkey was the victim’s caregiver. Pelkey and Benedetto are friends.

Reid took the case with help from other detectives and officers. The victim’s wealth management advisor told police that the victim’s spending habits suddenly changed rapidly and in a short period of time. The advisor also told police his client stopped talking about her transactions when she had no problem in the past.

A social worker with Elderly Protective Services visited the home June 16 and was suspicious about not being allowed to meet in private with the victim while her caregiver was there.

Detective Reid got a search warrant for the activity on the victim’s financial accounts. Reid learned that the BMW was sold to CarMax in East Haven. The CarMax manager said that Benedetto wanted cash for the car and provided a hand-written power of attorney message. CarMax ordered money go to the victim’s account directly instead.

The victim’s mother said her mother suffered from alcoholism and had sobered up in Arizona. She suspected Benedetto and Pelkey had provided her with alcohol in order to manipulate her, Hartman said.

Images of Pelkey and Benedetto via New Haven Police