LOCKPORT – A Fort Myers, Fla., woman was arraigned in Niagara County Court Thursday on charges of stealing $131,708 from her parents in Niagara Falls between April 2007 and December 2011.
Jennifer L. Lofstrand, 39, pleaded not guilty to second-degree grand larceny and five counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. She was arrested last week in Florida.
Assistant District Attorney Joseph A. Scalzo accused Lofstrand of absconding to Florida after she received “target letters” from the District Attorney’s Office last spring.
Defense attorney George V.C. Muscato said Lofstrand has lived in Fort Myers since May 2011, has two jobs and a Florida driver’s license, and talked to Falls police on the phone three times early last year. “Obviously, everybody knew where she was,” Muscato said.
He said Lofstrand had sent $20,000 to be deposited into her mother’s account. “We intend to get this matter resolved,” he said.
County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III ordered Lofstrand held in lieu of $50,000 bail, but Muscato will try to talk him down from that at a hearing Friday.
Jennifer L. Lofstrand, 39, pleaded not guilty to second-degree grand larceny and five counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. She was arrested last week in Florida.
Assistant District Attorney Joseph A. Scalzo accused Lofstrand of absconding to Florida after she received “target letters” from the District Attorney’s Office last spring.
Defense attorney George V.C. Muscato said Lofstrand has lived in Fort Myers since May 2011, has two jobs and a Florida driver’s license, and talked to Falls police on the phone three times early last year. “Obviously, everybody knew where she was,” Muscato said.
He said Lofstrand had sent $20,000 to be deposited into her mother’s account. “We intend to get this matter resolved,” he said.
County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III ordered Lofstrand held in lieu of $50,000 bail, but Muscato will try to talk him down from that at a hearing Friday.