Effingham County man sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for financially exploiting an elder

BENTON, Ill. - A district judge sentenced an Effingham County man to 12 years' imprisonment after he admitted to exploiting an 89-year-old man out of more than $400,000.

Edward L. Stief, Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of unlawful monetary transactions in criminal derived property. The judge ordered him to pay $411,773.51 in restitution.

"Not only did Stief manipulate his victim into cashing life insurance policies and draining his bank accounts, but he also convinced the man to leave the care of a nursing home where he was harmed after being isolated," said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. "This 12-year prison sentence sends a clear message that we will protect vulnerable populations against predators who would prey upon them."

According to court documents, Stief met the victim in May 2023 after becoming acquainted with him while offering lawn care and landscaping services. Shortly thereafter, Stief used several misrepresentations to convince the victim to appoint him as his Financial and Healthcare Power of Attorney.

"The defendant in this case didn't just steal money; he systematically targeted an individual's life under the guise of care and friendship. By exploiting the legal authority of a Power of Attorney for personal gain, he violated the most fundamental level of trust," said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge, Christopher J.S. Johnson. "Removing predators like this from our neighborhoods is essential to making our community a safer place for everyone, especially our seniors."

After becoming the victim's Power of Attorney, Stief became a signatory on the victim's bank accounts. In August 2023, he talked the victim into cashing out his life insurance policies and deposited most of the victim's money into Stief's personal bank accounts. Over the course of the next several months, Stief spent the entirety of the victim's life savings on himself. In addition, Stief also took the majority of the victim's personal items including his gold coin collection, gold necklaces, guns and watches.

In October 2023, Stief persuaded the victim to leave a nursing home facility and move into his full-time care. Under Stief's supervision, the victim was not cared for and his medical needs were not met.

The FBI Springfield Field Office and the Effingham Police Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case.

The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a service from the U.S. Department of Justice that helps victims over 60 years report crimes and access resources. The hotline is available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. ET, at (833) 372-8311 or (833) FRAUD-11. Callers can remain anonymous, and translation services are available.