Judge: Woman must pay $30K restitution by Sept. 13 or face 20 years in jail

STAMFORD — A Norwalk woman could face up to 20 years in prison if she doesn't pay at least $30,000 in restitution to a local family from whom she's accused of stealing more than $100,000.

Saipin Ashton, 49, agreed to a deal offered by a Superior Court judge during a disposition hearing at the state Superior Court in Stamford on Wednesday.

Under the agreement, Ashton entered a conditional guilty plea to first-degree larceny. If Ashton can pay back at least $30,000 in restitution by her next court date on Sept. 13, she could avoid any jail time — though that decision is left to the judge.

On Wednesday, Judge Gary White said he'd consider giving Ashton a suspended sentence and probation. He said his decision will be based on her presentencing investigation report and whether she pays the restitution.

“If you don't come up with the money, it's not going to help,” White said.

Ashton was arrested in June 2021 following a nearly nine-month investigation into accusations that she stole more than $100,000 from a now deceased Norwalk resident.

According to her arrest warrant, the investigation began in August 2020 when an older Norwalk resident reported fraudulent activity involving multiple accounts. The individual told police that several online purchases were made with their debit card.

“Investigations revealed that Saipin Ashton, known to the victim, as she had lived with the victim at one time, had gained access to account information and, over a period of several years, had been taking money,” police said at the time.

The activity included transactions to Amazon, Walmart, Soma Intimate, Women's Health and Saks, and transfers from the victim's accounts to an online Zelle account, according to the warrant. The transactions all but depleted the victim's funds over the course of several years, according to the warrant.