Published: July 17, 2008 10:23 pm            

COURTS: Businessman ordered to pay back almost $200K to elderly woman

A former West End businessman who pleaded guilty to stealing money from an elderly friend has been sentenced to five years probation.

Deni Aloisio, 46, of West Avenue, had been on one-year interim probation after pleading guilty last May in Niagara County Court to third-degree grand larceny, a felony.

Aloisio stole more than $200,000 from an elderly woman who had given him power of attorney.

Police said Aloisio and the woman found the cash while they were cleaning out an apartment that had belonged to her deceased brother.

Aloisio reportedly offered to keep the money in a safe for the woman, but instead he stole the money through checks in his name and in the name of his business, Western Cut-Rate Muffler and Brake Shop on West Avenue.

The Niagara County Department of Social Services contacted the Lockport Police Department in October 2005 with their suspicions about the money.

Aloisio was arrested in January 2007.

At the time of his guilty plea, Aloisio was ordered to pay back $199,259.65 in restitution.

His attorney, Andrew Vona, said that since the guilty plea last year, Aloisio has paid back more than $43,000.

The remaining $155,859.95 will be paid back throughout Aloisio’s probation.

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.

        

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