East Orange man sentenced for conning dementia-stricken friend

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — An Essex County man who admitted scamming a dementia-stricken neighbor has been sentenced to five years in state prison.

The state attorney general's office says Gilbert Vaughn will also have to pay $50,000 in restitution under sentencing terms imposed Friday.

The 64-year-old East Orange resident pleaded guilty in September to insurance fraud, theft, and identity theft.

Prosecutors say Vaughn and the 90-year-old victim were neighbors in an East Orange senior citizen community.

Vaughn testified before state authorities on behalf of the victim, saying the victim needed to be protected from his children, who he claimed were taking advantage of his finances.

Instead, authorities said Vaughn convinced the victim to withdraw money from an annuity he held. The $50,000 was withdrawn before the account was frozen.

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