AG: Lancaster Co. woman scammed out of life savings

(Harrisburg) — A Washington County man has been charged with using an investment scheme to steal $159,000 from a 69-year-old Lancaster County woman.

In a press release, Attorney General Josh Shapiro says the scam artist led the victim to believe she would face retaliation from the mafia if she did not continue giving him money. The victim ended up taking out loans against her home and liquidating her life’s savings.

Yancey Taylor, 45, allegedly took the money and gambled it away at various casinos in Pennsylvania. He faces one count each of theft by deception and theft by extortion, second-degree felonies with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Shapiro says investigators believe there may be additional victims who were scammed by Taylor, and he urged anyone with information to contact the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations at 717-787-6858.