A man held an 81-year-old Marine Corps veteran hostage in a squalid motel room for at least four years in order to steal his benefits, it has emerged.
Perry Coniglio, 43, was arrested on Tuesday in a hotel room adjoining his victim’s in a New York state motel, American authorities said yesterday.
He used intimidation and force to control his victim, who suffers from dementia, police confirmed.
Police chief Jack Quinn said the veteran, who has not been named by police, received a “tremendous amount of money” every month in social security benefits, pension checks and food stamps. The exact total was not confirmed.
Coniglio was arrested after neighbours handed police video footage allegedly showing the elderly man being physically abused.
Footage taken during a raid at the motel, captured by WABC-TV, showed police taking Coniglio into custody at gunpoint while the bearded veteran sits on a bed in his cluttered room.
Coniglio was held in the Orange County jail last night, on $15,000 bail, over charges including grand larceny and unlawful imprisonment.
The US Academy Motel is situated next to the area’s police station. Officials were unable to say why the alleged abuse continued for so long.
