Thursday, June 6, 2019

Long Island Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Stealing More Than $1 Million From Dead Woman’s Estate and For Possession of Child Pornography

Defendant Filed a Fraudulent Will to Have Victim’s Body Cremated and Her Estate Transferred to Him

“Derounian’s crimes were unconscionable and today’s sentence is well deserved,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.

“When it comes to evil deeds, there is nothing more despicable than preying on children and robbing the dead. Today’s sentence is a lesson in karma and justice; when you break the law, your crimes will eventually be exposed,” stated USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Bartlett.

On November 12, 2015, Derounian claimed to have found the body of his tenant, Jane Doe, inside her Sea Cliff residence. He then telephoned and emailed employees at Morgan Stanley, in an attempt to obtain over $200,000 from Doe’s account. As a further part of the scheme, Derounian forged a will naming himself executor and sole beneficiary of Doe’s estate, had the body of Doe cremated, sold Doe’s real property for over $1 million, and transferred the proceeds into bank accounts he controlled. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/long-island-man-sentenced-more-10-years-imprisonment-stealing-more-1-million-dead-woman