Woman admits to robbing Holocaust survivor of $2.8 million in romance scheme

CHAMPIONS GATE, Fla. (WKRC) — A woman in Florida has admitted to stealing millions of dollars in life savings from a Holocaust survivor, according to authorities.

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York on Friday announced 36-year-old Peaches Stergo pled guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Between approximately May 2017 and October 2021, Stergo carried out a scheme to defraud the victim.

Peaches Stergo stole the life savings from an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who was just looking for companionship. This conduct is sick – and sad," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams noted in a news release.

The release noted Stergo met the man on a dating app and asked to borrow money to pay her lawyer, who, she claimed, was refusing to release funds from an injury settlement.

After he gave her the money, Stergo told the victim the funds had been deposited into her account, which bank records disprove.

Regardless, she continued the lie for years, telling him if he didn't continue to pay her, her accounts would be frozen and he would never get his money back.

According to court documents, she went as far as to create a fake email appearing to belong to a bank employee, as well as fake letters and invoices.

Officials said, over the course of four years, the victim wrote 62 checks and Stergo deposited more than $2.8 million into multiple accounts.

While the victim lost his life savings and was forced to give up his apartment, Stergo lived a life of luxury with the millions she received from the fraud," according to the release.

Stergo used the money to buy a house in a gated community, a condo, a boat, and numerous cars -- including a Corvette and a Suburban.

She also went on expensive vacations and spent tens of thousands of dollars on gold coins and bars, jewelry,Rolex watches, and designer clothing.

As part of a deal, Stergo agreed to pay$2,830,775 in restitution, as well as forfeit the same amount, along with over 100 of the luxury items.

The release stated that she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Her hearing was scheduled for July 27.

"Thanks to the hard work of the FBI and this Office, Stergo is being held accountable for her fraud," according to the release.