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CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — A northern New Jersey man who defrauded an elderly woman of roughly $279,000 while she was hospitalized for cancer treatment is headed to prison.
Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Ralph Cozzino, of North Bergen, received a 37-month sentence Monday. He pleaded guilty last year to mail fraud.
Cozzino will serve three years of supervised release after prison and must pay $279,020 in restitution.
Cozzino admitted stealing stock certificates from the victim's apartment and brought them to her stock transfer agent, along with forged documents to falsely grant him power of attorney. He told the agent to transfer ownership of the stocks into his name and to liquidate certain shares.
The funds were used for personal expenses, including a car, Lasik eye surgery, a down payment on a new house and new furniture.
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