Pa. Jeannette. An investigation found that a mother and daughter in Westmoreland County reportedly stole $4.4 million from a relative’s inheritance, leading to charges of theft and dealing in results of illicit activity. Angela Valesky, 26, and Lisa Valesky, 51, are charged with masterminding a complex conspiracy that included misappropriation of money from a multimillion-dollar estate, fake documents, and false communication.
An attorney contacting County Detective Ray Dupilka on behalf of the estate of a dead former president of Greensburg Beverage Distributor initiated the investigation. The lawyer brought to light anomalies in the estate’s distribution, which had remained unresolved since the woman’s passing in 2017. In November 2024, a family heir who was entitled to a $4.4 million share of the estate sought legal help because she felt her inheritance had been mismanaged.
The scheme to access the inheritance
Investigators discovered that a Common Pleas Judge had held a disbursement hearing on December 2, 2022. Court documents show that a lady claiming to be the heir called the court and gave permission for her sister, Lisa Valesky, to get her $4.4 million inheritance check. The check was then sent to a lawyer allegedly working for Lisa Valesky by the court.
The heir, however, asserted that she never named her sister as her power of attorney, denied awareness of the hearing, and denied authorizing it. A bogus email created in the heir’s name was used to inform the court that the heir was working abroad and would not be able to attend the hearing, according to additional research. Additionally, Lisa Valesky was named in the email as the heir’s power of attorney in order to receive the money.
The heir claimed she had not given anyone permission to act on her behalf or represent her, and detectives verified that the email account used was not connected to her.
How the funds were misappropriated
On December 13, 2022, the $4.4 million cheque was endorsed and put into a recently created joint account at Greensburg’s KeyBank. The heir and Lisa’s daughter, Angela Valesky, were listed as the account’s owners. The heir attested that at the time, she had no financial accounts with KeyBank, was unaware of this account, and did not endorse the check.
Records indicate that almost $3.1 million was moved to several accounts within a month after the transaction. Lisa Valesky received a check for $1.9 million in May 2023, and the KeyBank account was closed soon after.
Investigators found that Lisa and Angela Valesky were unemployed at the time the money was being spent, and that neither woman was listed as a beneficiary of the estate.
Lavish purchases with stolen funds
The results of the inquiry showed that large purchases were made with the stolen funds. To buy a Lincoln Navigator registered in Lisa Valesky’s name, Angela Valesky sent a $121,747 check to a nearby auto dealership in March 2023.
Angela paid $175,000 in cash for a house in Export, Pennsylvania, in July 2023. The next month, Lisa Valesky paid $400,000 in cash for a house in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. Additionally, investigators pointed out that public records showed neither woman had sufficient money to support these expenses.
Seizures and charges
Westmoreland County Detectives carried out search warrants on the homes the Valeskys had purchased on January 9, 2025. Law officials confiscated a number of items during the searches, including the Lincoln Navigator and the actual properties.
After that, Lisa and Angela Valesky were charged with stealing and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity. In anticipation of additional court procedures, both ladies have been placed under remand in detention.
Statements from the investigation
Detectives were informed by the heir who first asked about the estate that she never gave permission for the KeyBank account to be opened, never got the distribution check, and never profited from any of the money. Additionally, investigators think that in order to enable the illicit transfer of cash, perjured testimony was provided during the December 2022 hearing.
The case, according to Detective Dupilka, was a sophisticated plot that included phony identities, falsified communications, and a methodical attempt to steal an inheritance meant for a different family member.
