Stealing From Elderly Patient Leads to Wayne Woman's Probation Sentence

A Wayne woman who pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft by deception after authorities said she stole money from an elderly person she was caring for was sentenced Friday to three years of probation and a suspended sentence of 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Facility, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said.

Linda Stimmel-Keay, 47, was working as a home health care aid for an elderly person when she stole more than $285,000 from three separate bank accounts under the patient's name, Knapp said. A total of $90,835.93 was stolen from the patient's Ameriprise Financial account; $131,400.82 stolen from E-Trade and $62,994.58 stolen from Lakeland Bank Checking, as discovered by an audit conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Fraud Unit.

Stimmel-Keay pleaded guilty to the charges on April 16 and paid $201,226.66 in restitution to the victim just prior.

In addition to the probation sentence, the Hon. Stuart Minkowitz sentenced Stimmel-Keay to ten days of the Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program; 120 hours of community service; additional restitution to Ameriprise Financial in the amount of $63,595.54 and for her to surrender her nurse aide's certification.

The Pequannock Township Police Department assisted the prosecutor's office in the investigation.