WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Luzerne County man learned his fate Thursday after being convicted back in November of scamming a 93-year-old woman out of her lifelong home.
Jeremy Cieniawa, of Hazleton, was sentenced to 9 to 22 years in state prison for ripping off a woman he was supposed to be taking care of.
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The Hazleton woman, who is now 96, also suffers from dementia.
Cieniawa moved in with her in 2021. He sold her home for $77,000 and spent all but $4,000 on himself.
Drama today inside a Luzerne County courtroom as a man learns his fate for scamming a 93-year-old woman out of her life long home.
Investigators say 37-year-old Jeremy Cieniawa was supposed to be the woman's caretaker, but prosecutors say he was taking care of himself with the victims money.
The family of the victim, who is now 96 years old, says she was born in the house, lived there her entire life, and had hoped to die in her home.
They say Jeremy Cieniawa took that away from her, and that she deserved better and deserves justice.
When asked, what does this day mean to the family knowing he's being put away for a longtime?
"Closure, it's over," said Allison Tomczyk, great niece of victim.
The family of the now 96-year-old victim says they and their loved on finally have peace.
Prosecutors say 37-year-old Jeremy Cieniawa gained the trust of the victim and used that trust to take advantage of her, selling her home without her knowledge.
She suffers from dementia. Cieniawa moved into the woman's Hazleton home in 2019 and became her caretaker.
Her family tells me they had no reason to believe that he was up to no good. Eventually police say Cieniawa sold her lifelong home for $77,000 dollars. Detectives say he spent all but $4,000 dollars on himself and his friends.
During Thursday's sentencing, Judge Michael Vough asked Cieniawa if he had anything to say before he imposed the sentence. At which time, Cieniawa insisted he did not scam the victim.
Judge Vough interrupted and said "You do realize I presided over the trial and heard all the evidence," in a loud voice he told cieniawa:
"You are a parasite and a danger to the community. You must be sentenced as a parasite."
And then sentenced him to 9 to 22 years in a state prison.
"You can't do that to people, it's just wrong. He had to be charged and serve time for doing that to a human being," added Karey Lisiewski, great niece.
"It was simple things besides all the money. The house was taken from her. It was the sentimental things, the afghan knitted over 90 years ago sentimental things. Houses that she put under her Christmas tree everything gone forever," voiced Paul Tomczyk, great nephew.
The victim was not in the courtroom Thursday, but I spoke with her last November minutes after they convicted Cieniawa of numerous counts including theft.
"You're glad it's over," asked Mehalschick.
"Thank god thank god it's over. After all this time, yeah I'm glad it's over that's the main thing," voiced the 96-year-old victim.
As for Cieniawa…
When asked, "Anything to say to the family? Are you going to appeal,"
Cienawa nodded his head.
Cieniawa can appeal his conviction.
