Accountant who stole $1.2M from Holocaust survivor sentenced

Barry Palczewski

New York – Barry Palczewski, 55, of Oyster Bay, NY, was sentenced to 2-6 years in state prison after being convicted by the New York State Supreme Court of Grand Larceny in the First Degree. 

Palczewski stole more than $1.2 million from a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor.

As stated in the defendant’s guilty plea and other documents filed in court, Palczewski was a former accountant at the law firm delegated to handle the victim’s finances. He had access to the victim’s bank accounts and her personal checks. 

From 2008 to 2010, the defendant stole and forged more than 100 checks from the victim’s personal checking account, making the checks payable to himself from her attorney.

The victim passed away in May 2012.