BARI – Six years’ imprisonment, an 800 euro fine and perpetual disqualification from holding public office: this is the sentence imposed at first instance, more than ten years after the events, against the 60-year-old Teresa Maria Guerra from Bari, an alleged serial fraudster of the elderly.
From July to October 2013 the woman allegedly defrauded fourteen people, posing as an INPS employee, ASL doctor and social worker, taking possession of around 8 thousand euros.
According to the investigations coordinated by prosecutor Bruna Manganelli, Guerra, 49 years old at the time, targeted elderly women who were alone or living with disabled family members, managing to break into their homes to steal money from them. The 60-year-old was tried for ten episodes of aggravated theft and impersonation.
THE TEN SCAMS The first confirmed attack dates back to 31 July 2013. Guerra, after having entered the home of an 80-year-old by qualifying herself as “Doctor Colucci, employee of the local health authority”, allegedly faked a document check aimed at improving the economic-personal situation of the elderly woman. She would have received an envelope containing 800 euros, the victim’s pension in cash and, taking advantage of a moment of distraction from the lady, she would have replaced the envelope with another identical one but containing instead of banknotes a photocopy of a few hundred euros and leaves advertising…
