Pa. Superior Court orders re-sentencing for man charged with scamming Clarks Summit woman
The state Superior Court ruled a Maryland man who scammed a Clarks Summit woman to be re-sentenced.
Arrest and charges
In a decision issued last week, a three-judge panel ordered a new sentencing hearing for Luis Alberto Polanco-Guzman, 36, of Gambrills, Maryland.
He also ordered Polanco-Guzman to to pay the victim $36,500 in restitution, and $5,000 to the victim’s compensation fund.
Charges and court proceedings
Lackawanna County detectives charged Polanco-Guzman in 2024 with felony theft, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
The charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by detectives and the Clarks Summit Police Department, where they determined he scammed a then-80 year old borough woman out of nearly $42,000, claiming it helped her grandson, according to authorities.
He arranged for a Lyft ride to collect the money, and was subsequently arrested and charged.
Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse sentenced Polanco-Guzman last year to between 30 and 60 years in prison and six years of probation on counts of theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility.
