Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that a state grand jury has indicted the owner of an in-home senior care company in Atlantic County and her sister on first-degree charges of conspiracy and money laundering for allegedly conspiring with a lawyer to steal over $2.7 million from a dozen elderly clients.
The indictment, handed up late yesterday, also charges three other people: an employee of their company who allegedly conspired with them to steal from one client; a former caseworker for Atlantic County Adult Protective Services who allegedly conspired with them to steal from an elderly couple; and a doctor who allegedly lied to the State Police during the investigation. The lawyer, Barbara Lieberman, 63, of Northfield, who specialized in elder law in Atlantic County, pleaded guilty on Nov. 3 to first-degree money laundering and faces a recommended sentence of 10 years in state prison, including 3 ½ years of parole ineligibility. She forfeited $3 million in assets seized from her and her husband, as well as her law license. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25.
The Division of Criminal Justice yesterday obtained an 11-count state grand jury indictment charging these five defendants as follows:
Jan Van Holt, 58, of Linwood, owner of “A Better Choice,” a company that offered elderly clients in-home “life care and legal financial planning.” Conspiracy (3 counts: two 1st degree and one 2nd degree), Money Laundering (3 counts: two 1st degree and one 2nd degree), Theft by Deception (3 counts: all 2nd degree) and Official Misconduct (2nd degree).
Sondra Steen, 59, of Linwood, Van Holt’s sister, who helped run the company and assisted clients. Conspiracy (3 counts: two 1st degree and one 2nd degree), Money Laundering (3 counts: two 1st degree and one 2nd degree), Theft by Deception (3 counts: all 2nd degree) and Official Misconduct (2nd degree).
Susan Hamlett, 56, of Egg Harbor Township, who worked as an aide for company clients. Conspiracy (2nd degree), Money Laundering (2nd degree) and Theft by Deception (2nd degree).
William Price, 57, of Linwood, who was a caseworker for Atlantic County Adult Protective Services when Van Holt was a county caseworker. Conspiracy (1st degree), Money Laundering (1st degree), Official Misconduct (2nd degree) and Theft by Deception (2nd degree).
Dr. Maria Teresa S. Daclan, 53, of Galloway Township. Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (3rd degree).
It is alleged that Van Holt and Steen conspired with Lieberman to steal more than $2.7 million from 12 elderly clients between January 2003 and December 2012. Hamlett is charged in connection with a single client, a woman from whom Lieberman, Van Holt, Steen and Hamlett allegedly conspired to steal approximately $112,000. Price is charged in connection with an elderly couple he met through his job as a caseworker for Atlantic County Adult Protective Services. Van Holt also was a county caseworker at the time, and Price allegedly conspired with Van Holt, Steen and Lieberman to steal more than $800,000 from the elderly couple and their estate. Price allegedly received $125,000 of the stolen funds.
Van Holt worked as a case worker for Atlantic County Adult Protective Services from 2002 through December 2007, when she was terminated. Five of the alleged victims were recruited as clients after they came into contact with Van Holt through her official public position as a case worker. The official misconduct charge against Van Holt, Steen and Price relates to those victims.
It is alleged that Van Holt generally was the one to identify potential clients, approaching them to offer the services of A Better Choice and Lieberman. The defendants allegedly targeted elderly clients with substantial assets who typically did not have any immediate family, offering them non-medical care and services, including household chores, errands, driving clients to appointments, scheduling, budgeting, paying bills, balancing checkbooks, and other tasks. They did not provide healthcare services. Van Holt also created a company called “Elder Hospice,” but it was nothing more than a bank account.
Once a target accepted Van Holt’s offer of services, Steen usually would be put in place as the victim’s primary caregiver. In the case of the elderly couple connected to Price, Price also provided extensive assistance, particularly with household repairs. Lieberman would then be brought in to do legal work, preparing powers of attorney and wills for the clients. Lieberman was a leading specialist in elder law in Atlantic County who gave seminars to senior citizens on end of life affairs, wills and living wills.
The defendants allegedly took control of the finances of their victims by forging a power of attorney or obtaining one on false pretenses. The defendants then added their names to the victims’ bank accounts or transferred the victims’ funds into new accounts they controlled. Thereafter, the defendants allegedly stole from the accounts to pay their own expenses, including, for Van Holt and Steen – who lived together – veterinary bills for their pets, pool supplies, two Mercedes cars owned by Van Holt, and lease payments on a Florida condo.
Lieberman and Van Holt were arrested on March 19, 2014. Van Holt previously had been arrested with Steen and Hamlett on Dec. 20, 2012, in connection with one victim. The investigation began after the New Jersey Office of the Public Guardian referred the case of that one victim to the State Police.