JEANNETTE, Pa. — A mother and daughter in Westmoreland County have been charged with theft and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity after an investigation revealed they allegedly stole $4.4 million from a relative’s inheritance. Lisa Valesky, 51, and Angela Valesky, 26, are accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme involving fraudulent communication, forged documents, and misuse of funds from a multimillion-dollar estate.
The investigation was launched after an attorney, representing the estate of a deceased former president of Greensburg Beverage Distributor, contacted County Detective Ray Dupilka. The attorney reported irregularities in the disbursement of the estate, which had been unsettled since the woman’s death in 2017. A family heir, who was entitled to a $4.4 million portion of the estate, believed her inheritance had been mishandled and reached out for legal assistance in November 2024.
The scheme to access the inheritance
Detectives uncovered that a disbursement hearing had been held on December 2, 2022, before a Common Pleas Judge. According to court records, a woman claiming to be the heir appeared via telephone and authorized the court to release her $4.4 million inheritance check to her sister, Lisa Valesky. The court subsequently directed the check to an attorney purportedly representing Lisa Valesky.
However, the heir denied any knowledge of the hearing, denied giving authorization, and claimed she never appointed her sister as her power of attorney. Further investigation revealed a fraudulent email, crafted in the heir’s name, had been used to notify the court that the heir was “working out of the country” and unable to attend the hearing. The email also designated Lisa Valesky as the heir’s power of attorney for the purpose of receiving the funds.
Detectives confirmed that the email address used was not associated with the heir, and the heir stated she did not authorize anyone to represent her or to act on her behalf.
How the funds were misappropriated
The $4.4 million check was endorsed and deposited on December 13, 2022, into a newly opened joint account at KeyBank in Greensburg. The account was in the names of the heir and Angela Valesky, Lisa’s daughter. The heir confirmed she had no knowledge of this account, did not endorse the check, and had no financial accounts with KeyBank at the time.
Records show that within one month of the deposit, approximately $3.1 million had been transferred to various other accounts. In May 2023, a $1.9 million check was issued to Lisa Valesky, and the KeyBank account was closed shortly thereafter.
Detectives determined that neither Lisa nor Angela Valesky was named as a recipient of the estate and that both women were unemployed during the time frame in which the funds were being spent.
Lavish purchases with stolen funds
The investigation revealed that the stolen money was used to make significant purchases. In March 2023, Angela Valesky issued a $121,747 check to a local car dealership to purchase a Lincoln Navigator, which was titled in Lisa Valesky’s name.
In July 2023, Angela purchased a residence in Export, Pa., for $175,000 in cash. The following month, Lisa Valesky purchased a residence in Jeannette, Pa., for $400,000 in cash. Detectives also noted that public records indicated neither woman had legitimate income to justify these expenditures.
Seizures and charges
On January 9, 2025, Westmoreland County Detectives executed search warrants on the residences purchased by the Valeskys. During the searches, law enforcement seized multiple items, including the Lincoln Navigator and the properties themselves.
Lisa and Angela Valesky were subsequently arraigned on charges of theft and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity. Both women have been remanded to custody, pending further legal proceedings.
Statements from the investigation
The heir who initially inquired about the estate told detectives that she never authorized the opening of the KeyBank account, never received the disbursement check, and never benefited from any of the funds. Investigators also believe that perjured testimony was given during the December 2022 hearing to facilitate the fraudulent transfer of funds.
Detective Dupilka described the case as a complex scheme involving false identities, fabricated communications, and a systematic attempt to steal an inheritance intended for another family member.