MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — A Cumberland County man has been charged with stealing $160,000 from his grandfather's bank account after being kicked out of the victim's house earlier this year.
Jacob Gillis, 20, of Mechanicsburg, is charged with theft by unlawful taking and financial exploitation of an older care-dependent person, according to Lower Allen Township Police.
Authorities began investigating on Oct. 8, when they were contacted regarding the suspected theft.
Gillis, who had been living with the 85-year-old victim, was kicked out of the home. But before doing so, he convinced the victim to add him to the victim's bank account.
The victim is suffering from cognitive decline and memory loss, according to police. He told authorities he did not recall adding Gillis to his account.
Police then contacted the bank, which provided documentation that shows Gillis was added to the victim's account in September. A week later, police said, Gillis opened his own account at the bank and transferred $100,000 of the victim's money into it.
The next day, police claim, Gillis transferred another $60,000 from the victim's account to his own.
When interviewed by police, Gillis allegedly admitted to transferring the money out of the victim's account and into his own, depriving and exploiting a care-dependent person out of $160,000, police said.
Gillis was charged on Nov. 26 and turned himself in to authorities on Dec. 10, according to police.
