A man accused of holding an 81-year-old Marine Corps veteran hostage in a Hudson Valley motel for at least four years in order to steal his benefits has pleaded guilty.
The Times Herald-Record of Middletown, New York, reports 43-year-old Perry Coniglio entered the plea Thursday to endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
Authorities arrested Coniglio in his room adjoining the room of David McLellan at a motel in Highlands, New York. Coniglio was accused of using brute force and intimidation to get McLellan to cooperate with him.
Prosecutors say Coniglio prepared the veteran’s meals, gave him clothes, cleaned him, trimmed his hair and drove him to the bank to withdraw money several times a month. But authorities say Coniglio also used McLellan’s money to pay for his own rent.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Veterans are krapped on here in the USA all the time by the public and the government.
The way veterans are often treated here is a national disgrace. Thank you, Mr. Obama!!
I wonder how common place this crime is. I know it would be a bit expensive for counties/states, but maybe case workers should be required to physically check on all disabled people receiving benefits. Just a quick check every 2 or 3 months. And make sure the checks are random, to make it harder for those making victims of these people. Just a thought.