A heartless Massachusetts swindler was indicted Thursday for stealing more than $140,000 from a sick 9/11 survivor and her widow mom while posing as an investment broker, Long Island officials said.
Richard Yasnis, 43, allegedly bilked the sum from the victim who helped on Ground Zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and developed medical issues, qualifying for 9/11 Victim Compensation funds, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
Posing as a licensed broker with Cahill Financial Group, Yasnis allegedly concocted a phony property renovation opportunity, promising her 20% of the profit and urging her to invest the rest of the money in the stock market between May and June 2023.
When she found out she’d receive compensation for 9/11 related illnesses, she forked over $48,800 on July 31, 2023, according to prosecutors.
But the scheme allegedly continued.
Yasnis allegedly told the woman he needed $150,000 to invest in “FlexPort,” a company he claimed went public months earlier, prosecutors said.
The victim then gave him $5,000 worth of jewelry to sell and told him to use it for the investment before her 77-year-old widow mom also fell prey to the scam — cashing in part of her dead husband’s life insurance policy and giving Yasnis $88,000 in cash, according to the allegations.
In September 2023, the family grew suspicious and demanded Yasnis provide receipts and return the large sum, the DA said.
The alleged fraudster refused, prosecutors said.
Yasnis was arrested months later when a police investigation revealed he was not a licensed investment broker, never worked with Cahill Financial Group and FlexPort is a privately held company.
Yasnis, of Natick, was slapped with grand larceny charges and pleaded not guilty Thursday.
If convicted, he faces from seven and a half to 15 years in prison.
Donnelly slammed Yasnis as an opportunistic “charlatan” who exploited his victims.
“Richard Yasnis allegedly misrepresented himself as a successful Wall Street investor, selling his victims promises of financial opportunities that would grow their assets to ensure they would live comfortably for years to come,” she said in a statement.
“But instead of helping these women to secure their futures, Yasnis allegedly stole more than $140,000 from them — funds that were drawn in part from one of the victim’s 9/11 compensation for her work at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks,” she continued.
“We will never allow the brave men and women who fell ill after their incredible service and sacrifice in those dark days to be exploited by charlatans.”