5 Biggest Crimes Within Wealthy U.S. FamiliesBy Gary C. King
Editor: Rachel Frank  Crimes, including murder, are committed every day in the U.S. for a variety of reasons. But very often, crime and wealth (and sometimes fame) go hand in hand. Here, we'll take a peek at some high-profile crimes that took place within some wealthy (and sometimes famous) American families — from the theft of millions of dollars from an elderly New York socialite by her own son to a wealthy businessman who met his fate in a case yet to be resolved. 5: Brooke Astor Defrauded by Her Son Brooke Astor, philanthropist and long-time figurehead of New York society, was a venerable old woman who suffered from Alzheimer's disease in the last years of her life. Worth millions, she died in 2007 at age 105. According to The New York Times, Astor's only son, Anthony D. Marshall, stole millions from his mother in a case that also involved Mrs. Astor's estate planner, Francis X. Morrissey Jr. The massive siphoning of money was characterized by a prosecutor as "grand theft Astor … a six-year crime spree involving a series of larcenies." During the five-month trial, luminaries such as Henry Kissinger, Barbara Walters, Annette de la Renta, David Rockefeller and others testified that Marshall mistreated his mother in her supposed golden years. Prosecutors also showed that, at the urging of his wife, Astor's son conspired with attorney Morrissey to increase his inheritance, in part by forgery and by changing Mrs. Astor's will. For example, one change to her last will and testament in January 2004 provided Marshall with control of $60 million of her estate in the event of her death. Marshall and Morrissey were convicted of a variety of fraud and conspiracy charges in October 2009. Morrissey, who was also convicted of a forgery count involving an amendment to Mrs. Astor's will, was portrayed by prosecutors as being the main planner of the massive fraud scheme. Both men were sentenced to one to three years in prison in December 2009. |
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