Prescription for Crime
A dose of reality
By LYNN BERRY
Updated 6:48 AM EST, Tue, Nov 18, 2008
It was a dose of reality for one elderly patient at Andorra Woods nursing home in Whitemarsh, Pa. when his own nurse duped him, according to prosecutors Monday.
Police say 28-year-old Jennifer Antonelli of Conshocken swiped a check from the patient's room and used it to pay her and her boyfriend's personal bills in 2007.
"It's a sad case…this man is elderly and was taken advantage of and fortunately he had a family member looking over his finances," Assistant District Attorney Bob Sander said.
A family member who saw unauthorized checks and money missing from their father's account, called police who discovered a sickening plot to use the identity of the patient and Antonelli's own 10-year-old daughter to cover her mounting debt.
Antonelli, who is 8 months pregnant, pled guilty to the charges and is said to have fallen on tough times.
"She saw an easy way to get money and get out of debt and unfortunately the easy way out was committing a crime and we caught her," Assistant District Attorney Bob Sander said.
Antonelli's attorney had no comment and Andorra Woods nursing home did not return our calls for comment.
Antonelli has been terminated from her position at the nursing home and was released on $5,000 bail. She faces 7-14 years in prison.
Prosecutors say they have no evidence that any other patient's identities were stolen.
First Published: Nov 17, 2008 5:35 PM EST
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