Woman Pleads Guilty to Duping Unsuspecting Man Out of Nearly $180,000

Modified: December 22, 2020 2:17pm

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12/22/2020

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 33-year-old Ashley Knopf of Leon, NY pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski to one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree, a class “C” felony. This was the highest charge she could have been convicted of at trial.

The defendant admitted that between December of 2018 and February of 2020 she stole $177,488 from a 62-year old victim by befriending and convincing him she needed money to pay for her medical bills while attending out of state facilities.  The evidence showed she was in Western New York the entire time. 

Knopf faces a possible sentence of 5-15 years in state prison when sentenced on March 15, 2021. She remains released on her own recognizance.

DA Flynn commends DA Confidential Criminal Investigators Natalie Perez and Phil Torre for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.