Nutley Couple Plead Not Guilty to Stealing Elderly Relative's Cash and Jewelry

Millburn's fire inspector and his wife pleaded not guilty Friday to charges they withdrew more than $150,000 from a bank account and sold more than $15,000 worth of jewelry belonging to an elderly relative they had power of attorney over.

Peter Dicostanzo, 40, and his wife, Angela Discostanzo, 35, both of Nutley, were indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury on 18 counts of theft, forgery and misapplication of entrusted funds.

The victim of the alleged theft is Peter Dicostanzo's grandmother.

Appearing before Judge Michael Ravin in an Essex County Courtroom in Newark, the couple pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to NJ.com. Peter Dicostanzo's attorney, Vincent Scoca, said his client has done nothing illegal.

Scoca told the newspaper that the numbers presented by the prosecution were inflated and do not add up to a 2nd degree offense and its five to 10 year prison term. 

The couple was offered five years in state prison by the Prosecutor's Office in exchange for a guilty plea, though they've rejected the offer.

According to a previous Patch report, Dicostanzo was given power of attorney over his grandmother's finances after his grandfather passed away in 2010. He and his wife were indicted on May 15.