A Pennsylvania woman faces multiple felony charges for allegedly stealing nearly $150,000 from her elderly mother's retirement accounts to fund her gambling addiction.

Kelly Jo Wright, 56, of Ridgway, PA, obtained power of attorney for her mother in early 2022 while her mother suffered from early onset dementia. Court documents indicate Wright subsequently liquidated her mother's $123,000 IRA and $27,000 in additional banking accounts between March 2022 and September 2023.

Prosecutors allege Wright spent the majority of funds gambling at Pennsylvania Skill gaming machines and the Seneca Casino in Salamanca, NY. Casino records show Wright lost at least $24,000 at Seneca Casino alone during this period, with potential additional undocumented losses.

During this time, Wright's mother survived on just $1,600 monthly from Social Security benefits.

Wright faces four felony charges:

• Financial exploitation of an older adult
• Theft by deception-false impression
• Theft by deception-prevent acquisition of information
• Theft by deception-failure to correct

She remains in Jefferson County's Brookville Correctional Facility on $100,000 bail, awaiting a January 6 preliminary hearing.

Wright also faces separate ongoing legal challenges, including:

• 22 counts of animal cruelty (April 2023)
• Felony charges for attempting to purchase illegal narcotics (December 2023)

Related Articles

Previous Articles