Former Mon Valley Attorney Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Defrauding Elderly Client

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 33 months' imprisonment, a $100,000.00 fine, and restitution in the amount of $505,131.95, as well as forfeiture in the amount of $235,515.93, on his conviction of mail fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Keith A. Bassi, age 61, of Fayette City, Pennsylvania.

According to the information presented to the court, between 2012 and 2016, Keith A. Bassi, then a licensed Pennsylvania attorney, misappropriated for personal use approximately $505,000 in funds belonging to the estate of an elderly person diagnosed with dementia. Bassi held a power of attorney for the victim, and then engaged in a series of financial transactions in which he diverted the victim’s assets into bank accounts he created and controlled at Charleroi Federal Savings and PNC Banks. In one instance, Bassi made insurance premium payments using the victim’s funds on a whole life policy purchased at Pacific Life in the name of someone other than the victim, and then later cancelled the policy and kept the surrendered cash proceeds for himself. He also used the victim’s estate funds to operate Mid Mon Valley Publishing Co.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Attorney commended the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Keith A. Bassi.