Brooklyn couple accused of scamming Asian immigrant families
Offered To Teach Them English as a Second Language
The Kings County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday announced the arrest of Patrick Panettieri, 63, and his wife, Joanne Panettieri, 59, for allegedly defrauding approximately 100 Asian immigrant families out of thousands of dollars which they paid in tuition at schools run by the defendants to learn English as a Second Language.
The defendants are charged with suddenly closing down the schools and fleeing with their victims’ money. The couple was arrested on Friday, Aug. 30 in Syracuse, N.Y. They are charged with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, Petit Larceny and Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree.