Woman sentenced for stealing from kin

Sister ordered to repay nearly $150,000 to disabled brother

NORRISTOWN » Saying a Red Hill woman didn’t comprehend the depth of her betrayal, a judge ordered her to spend some time behind bars for stealing about $150,000 from her brother, who has learning disabilities.

“It’s clear to me she does not comprehend what she’s done. I believe this defendant somehow felt some entitlement because she felt she was the only one taking care of her brother,” Montgomery County Judge Thomas C. Branca said Monday, referring to admitted thief Carol Ann Kratzer.

Branca sentenced Kratzer, 67, of the 200 block of West Fourth Street, to 10 to 23 months in the county jail, to be followed by three years’ probation, and 100 hours of community service. The judge ordered Kratzer to report to jail on Sept. 25 in order to give her time to sell her home, the proceeds of which must be used for restitution.

“You took advantage of your handicapped brother. You took huge advantage of him. I truly believe you are sitting here now feeling sorry for yourself and nobody

else. I don’t perceive you to be remorseful,” Branca addressed Kratzer. “I hope you use the time in prison to do some meaningful soul searching and heart searching. I think you need to do that.”

Kratzer previously pleaded guilty to felony charges of forgery and theft by deception in connection with thefts that occurred between 2009 and 2014 while she was the power of attorney for her younger brother. On Monday, Kratzer claimed she didn’t intend to harm her brother and at one point seemed to imply some of the thefts were really “loans”

and that her brother was aware of what she was doing.

“I learned my lesson, never again. It wasn’t done intentionally,” claimed Kratzer, who apologized and professed her love for her brother.

Assistant District Attorney Meghan Carney alleged Kratzer stole about $150,000 from her 65-yearold brother’s bank and retirement accounts. Kratzer was sole power of attorney for her brother since 2007, according to court documents.

“This is a complete breach of trust. This was theft after theft after theft. She violated a trust and she stole from her own brother. She took that power of attorney and she used it as a license to steal,” said Carney,

who argued for jail time against Kratzer. “She treated his bank accounts as her own.”

The victim was in the courtroom where he was supported by other family members.

Carney said the victim was a hardworking man who worked his whole life and saved his money, didn’t live extravagantly, and he relied on and trusted his sister to help him. Detectives said the victim worked for more than 40 years at the same local company and saved money for his retirement and had various financial holdings, which Kratzer decimated.

“While (the victim) is able to live alone and continues to work at the same employer, (the victim) requires

assistance with many day-to-day activities, including banking, bill payment and financial activities,” county Detective Jean Morrison wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Defense lawyer Hindi Kranzel sought a probationary sentence for Kratzer, pointing out she has no prior criminal record.

“She is accepting responsibility. She is remorseful. She misses her brother. This was a crime of opportunity. She did not set out to harm him,” Kranzel argued. “I don’t know that jail is the appropriate punishment for her.”

The investigation began in 2014, when the victim turned to another relative to report that he believed Kratzer was stealing from

him, according to charging documents. The victim became suspicious when he discovered an odd deduction on his pay slip that required him to pay back money he supposedly borrowed from his 401k account, a borrowing he had not authorized, according to court documents.

The victim then sought legal assistance and a review of his financial records was launched.

“This review discovered numerous purchases completed by Carol Kratzer using (the victim’s) accounts that were not for his benefit,” Morrison alleged. “Also, Carol Kratzer removed funds from several of (the victim’s) retirement and pension accounts. There is clear evidence not simply of the co-mingling of funds, but, outright theft of (the victim’s) funds by Carol Kratzer.”

The investigation determined Kratzer used the victim’s credit cards and checking account to make unauthorized purchases at restaurants, department stores and women’s accessories companies and even a massage spa, according to the arrest affidavit. Kratzer also transferred money from the victim’s bank accounts to her bank accounts, detectives said.

“Carol Kratzer consistently used the funds belonging to (the victim) for items that a single male in his early 60s with no dependents or pets would not purchase and would not purchase in such quantities,” Morrison alleged.