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Dansville Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Elderly Neighbor of Over $250K
Nahtahna Castner faces up to 22 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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A 46-year-old woman from Dansville, New York, Nahtahna Castner, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for defrauding her elderly neighbor of over $250,000 between July 2020 and February 2023. Castner and an unnamed co-conspirator gained access to the victim's banking information and proceeded to withdraw large sums of money, transfer funds to Castner's personal account, and make purchases with the victim's debit card, draining the victim's savings from $283,954.95 to just $99.59. The two also applied for three credit cards under the victim's name, racking up thousands in additional fraudulent charges.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing problem of elder financial abuse, where trusted individuals exploit and take advantage of vulnerable older adults. It underscores the importance of financial safeguards and oversight to protect the elderly from predatory schemes. The significant monetary loss suffered by the victim also demonstrates the devastating impact these crimes can have on victims' financial security and well-being.
The details
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Castner and her co-conspirator gained access to the over 90-year-old victim's banking information and proceeded to withdraw large sums of money from ATMs, transfer funds to Castner's personal account, and make purchases with the victim's debit card. In total, the two stole about $252,672 from the victim, draining the victim's bank account savings from $283,954.95 to just $99.59. The two also applied for three credit cards under the victim's name, racking up an additional $2,039.04, $819.33, and $809.74 in fraudulent charges.
- Between July 2020 and February 2023, Castner and her co-conspirator carried out the fraud.
- Castner pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.
- Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 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 defrauding her elderly neighbor.
Unnamed Co-Conspirator
An individual who worked with Castner to gain access to the elderly victim's banking information and carry out the fraud.
Elderly Victim
A over 90-year-old neighbor of Castner's, whose identity and bank account were exploited by Castner and her co-conspirator, resulting in a loss of over $250,000.
What’s next
Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 2026, where Castner could face a minimum of 2 years in prison and a maximum of 22 years, plus a $250,000 fine.
The takeaway
This case underscores the importance of financial safeguards and oversight to protect the elderly from predatory schemes, as well as the devastating impact that elder financial abuse can have on victims' financial security and well-being.
