Ansonia police say a Shelton woman and her son stole $200,000 from the woman’s mother over the course of three years.
Kristina Ukanowicz, 62, and Joseph Ukanowicz, 29, have been charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny in the case.
In a prepared statement, Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch said Kristina Ukanowicz had power of attorney over the finances of her mother.
“The theft took place over a three-year period when the victim was in her 80s,” Lynch said. “The victim’s bank and investment accounts went from having combined balances of over $200,000 to having a negative balance of over $1,000 during the time Kristina was power of attorney.”
Lynch said Detective Stephen Adcox investigated the case for more than two years after a complaint from another relative. The victim died shortly after police began the probe, he said.
“Through his investigation, Detective Adcox was able to show a pattern of spending and withdrawals that increased disproportionally from the time period before Kristina took over as power of attorney to her time as power of attorney,” Lynch said. “Detective Adcox’s investigation also identified Joseph as being involved in the theft.”
During interviews with police, Lynch said Kristina and Joseph Ukanowicz “each admitted to a role in the theft but blamed each other for the majority of the theft.”
Joseph Ukanowicz was arraigned June 19 at Superior Court in Derby, where a judge ordered him held on $50,000 bond and continued the case to July 11.
Lynch said Kristina Ukanowicz was arrested Monday and scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday (June 27) at Superior Court in Derby.
