Police arrest former Upper Gwynedd woman in $370K fraud of Hatfield man

Authorities this morning arrested a former Upper Gwynedd woman who is charged with stealing more than $370,000 from a disabled Hatfield man for whom she was caring.

Janet Gitney, 57, was arrested at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City, where she arrived after being extradited from the Phillipines. She was charged in late September with theft by deception, forgery, misapplication of entrusted property, fraud and insolvency, and related charges, according to a statement released this afternoon by the office of Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman.

The district attorney's office said Gitney fled to the Philippines after learning of the criminal investigation against her. She was captured there with the assistance of the FBI, the Phillippine National Police, and the Legal Attaché of the United States Embassy in Manila, whom the District Attorney thanked for their assistance.

Gitney allegedly obtained power of attorney over Eugene Waldsburger of Hatfield, for whom she was caring, and used that authority to empty Waldsburger's retirement accounts and transfer his house into her own name.

A judge last week approved the seizure of a bank account in Gitney's name that reportedly contains more than $400,000 in assets.

The case against Gitney is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Steven Latzer and Assistant District Attorney Tracey Potere.