On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, a 36 year old woman from Florida named Peaches Stergo was arrested for defrauding an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor.

In May 2017, Stergo and the unnamed victim met on an online dating website where they conversed for four years. According to The Department of Justice, Stergo claimed that she needed money to pay her lawyer who she claimed was refusing to allow loans from an injury settlement which was found out to be false. After the victim gradually provided the money, she deposited it into a TD bank account which she created by impersonating a bank employee and forged documents and received millions.

Stergo was living in luxury while receiving the money. She bought a home in a gated community, a boat, watches, jewelry, designer clothing, numerous cars, and a home in a gated community.

Strego has been charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

FBI’s Mike Driscoll states “Today we allege the defendant callously preyed on a senior citizen simply seeking companionship, defrauding him of his life savings.”