Thomas Frazzetto (Flagler County Sheriff”s Office).
A Florida man was recently arrested after stealing thousands of dollars from his late mother’s estate, Sunshine State police say.
Thomas Frazzetto, 56, stands accused of one count each of grand theft – larceny between $5,000 and $10,00 — and uttering forged instruments, according to Flagler County Sheriff’s Office records.
The investigation began in December 2024, two months after Frazzetto’s mother passed away, according to a press release issued by the sheriff’s office earlier this week. That investigation came in response to an alleged report of an attempt to cash an unauthorized check in the amount of $51,200, according to law enforcement.
“Further investigation revealed that Frazzetto had forged his late mother’s signature on not only this check but also three others that he successfully cashed within days of her passing,” the press release reads.
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Deputies allege some illicit money transfers occurred immediately before the defendant’s mother died.
“Using investigative means, detectives determined that Frazzetto had made numerous unauthorized transactions totaling over $9,000, including a $2,000 transaction via Zelle the day prior to his mother’s death,” the press release continues. “According to a victim of the estate, Frazzetto’s mother would have been incapacitated during this time and unable to make the cash transfer.”
Investigators spoke with the defendant days later.
The criminal complaint documents that initial discussion, at length:
On December 9, 2024, Detective Lagana contacted Thomas Frazzetto via cellphone. Thomas explained his mother, Janet Sterry would leave him a couple signed checks to use if he was running errands and needed to pick up medicine or other things for her. Thomas acknowledged his aunt, and his stepbrother…were his mom’s executors. He also expressed his dislike for his aunt, He explained any checks he cashed were written before she passed away and cashed after she passed away. Thomas admitted to signing one check on her behalf of his mother Janet for $80.00 to pay the cleaning lady. He also stated his mother asked him to sign it. The entire conversation was audio recorded and added to the case file. I explained I would be looking into the case further and requesting bank records and would touch base with him at a later date if I had questions.
Next, the detective spoke with the aforementioned cleaning lady – but the narratives apparently were a bit discordant.
“[S]he stated she did not receive the check because she was cancelled and didn’t clean due to Janet’s hospitalization,” the complaint goes on.
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Later, authorities focused on two different withdrawals of $600 from the deceased woman’s bank account. Her son, when questioned, allegedly denied responsibility. According to the complaint, however, Frazzetto was caught on video making those withdrawals.
Months passed with little to show.
Earlier this month, a warrant was issued for the defendant’s arrest. He was taken into custody on June 18 and is currently being detained in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on a $10,000 bond.
“Stealing from a deceased family member is not only disgraceful, but its also criminal,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “Our detectives did a great job building this case to ensure this ‘son of the year’ would be brought to justice.”
