Dansville Woman Pleads Guilty to Bilking Elderly Victim of Over $250,000

Nahtahna Castner and co-conspirator stole from 90-year-old neighbor over 2.5 years

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Nahtahna Castner, 46, of Dansville, New York, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for stealing over $252,000 from an elderly victim over 90 years old. Castner and a co-conspirator gained access to the victim's banking information and made unauthorized withdrawals, wire transfers, and credit card purchases over a 2.5 year period, draining the victim's savings from $283,954 to just $99.

Why it matters

Crimes targeting vulnerable elderly victims are a growing concern, with perpetrators often exploiting positions of trust to gain access to financial information and accounts. This case highlights the need for stronger protections and oversight to prevent such elder financial abuse, which can have devastating impacts on victims.

The details

Between July 2020 and February 2023, Castner and a co-conspirator conspired to defraud the elderly victim, who was Castner's neighbor and over 90 years old. Using Castner's position of trust, the co-conspirator gained access to the victim's banking information. Castner and the co-conspirator then made approximately $252,672.97 worth of unauthorized transactions, including ATM withdrawals, wire transfers to Castner's account, and purchases using the victim's debit card. They also opened three credit cards in the victim's name and made fraudulent charges totaling over $3,600.

  • In July 2020, Castner gained the trust of the 90-year-old victim.
  • Between July 2020 and February 2023, Castner and the co-conspirator executed the fraudulent transactions.
  • Castner pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.

The players

Nahtahna Castner

A 46-year-old woman from Dansville, New York who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for stealing over $250,000 from an elderly victim.

Co-conspirator

An unnamed individual who worked with Castner to gain access to the elderly victim's banking information and execute the fraudulent transactions.

Elderly Victim

A 90-year-old neighbor of Castner's in Dansville, New York whose trust was exploited and who had over $250,000 stolen from their savings account.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo

The U.S. Attorney who announced Castner's guilty plea.

Judge Charles J. Siragusa

The U.S. District Judge who will sentence Castner.

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What they’re saying

“Crimes targeting vulnerable elderly victims are a growing concern, with perpetrators often exploiting positions of trust to gain access to financial information and accounts.”

— U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo

What’s next

Sentencing for Nahtahna Castner is scheduled for June 9, 2026 before Judge Siragusa.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger protections and oversight to prevent elder financial abuse, which can have devastating impacts on vulnerable victims. Exploiting positions of trust to steal from the elderly is a growing problem that requires robust legal and social interventions.