A Long Island son and his wife are accused of turning his 84-year-old mother’s house into a personal cash machine, drawing out roughly $250,000 on a home equity line that prosecutors say pushed the property to the edge of foreclosure. George Frenkel, 65, and his wife, Eda Frenkel, 51, both of Atlantic Beach, surrendered to authorities this week and were arraigned on criminal charges tied to conduct that investigators say began in 2021. They were released on their own recognizance as the case moves through Nassau County courts.
How prosecutors say they carried out the scheme
According to prosecutors, the couple went online in 2021 and applied for a $500,000 home equity line of credit in the victim’s name. They allegedly executed the loan documents electronically and submitted what investigators describe as a purported power of attorney giving George control over the account. Investigators say that over the next four years, the pair transferred about $250,000 from the credit line into Eda’s personal bank account, while another $250,000 remained outstanding and the home drifted toward foreclosure, according to Daily Voice. Authorities say the funds were used to support the couple’s lifestyle rather than the homeowner’s needs.
Arraigned and released
The Frenkels surrendered and were arraigned on charges of second-degree grand larceny and first-degree identity theft, prosecutors say. “This couple allegedly funneled money to themselves for years and left the woman’s property on the brink of foreclosure,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said, according to Daily Voice. Donnelly called the alleged conduct heartbreaking in light of the victim’s age and vulnerability.
Charges and possible penalties
Under New York law, second-degree grand larceny is a class C felony and first-degree identity theft is a class D felony, per the New York State Senate and Public.Law. Those classifications feed into the state’s sentencing scheme, with class C felonies carrying potential indeterminate maximum terms of up to 15 years and class D felonies up to seven years under the New York State Senate. Any eventual punishment would depend on plea negotiations, prior criminal history and sentencing rules. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted in court.
What happens next for the house and the victim
Prosecutors say the loan still has an outstanding balance of about $250,000 and that the property remains at risk of foreclosure. If the couple are convicted, criminal proceedings could result in restitution orders, and the homeowner could also pursue civil remedies in an effort to recover money or straighten out the title. Local housing and elder-services agencies sometimes step in on foreclosure or exploitation cases, although those interventions can be slow and do not always fully undo the damage.
Why this matters
Financial exploitation by relatives is a disturbingly common feature of elder abuse. A major analysis by AARP found that the bulk of dollar losses in elder financial exploitation involves someone the victim already knows and estimated total annual losses in the tens of billions of dollars. Prosecutors say the Frenkel case is a local example of that larger pattern, with years of alleged transfers that left an elderly homeowner financially exposed.
Anyone who suspects elder financial exploitation in Nassau County is urged to contact the Nassau County Police Department or the District Attorney’s Office and to consider notifying the victim’s bank and Adult Protective Services so that transactions can be scrutinized. Prosecutors say they will continue to investigate as the case moves forward and are seeking tips from anyone who may have information about the alleged conduct.
