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Former attorney admits taking $500,000 from elderly client with dementia

CORRECTION: We inadvertently reported online and in our newscast that The Mon Valley Independent was out of business. We apologize for the error.

A former attorney and publishing company owner is admitting he took hundreds of thousands of dollars from an elderly client with dementia.

The well-known lawyer is facing up to 60 years in prison.

Keith Bassi, 61, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to three counts of mail fraud.

Prosecutors say he used the power of attorney for an elderly woman to steal $505,000.

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Investigators say Bassi diverted the woman's assets into bank accounts he created at Charleroi Federal Savings and PNC Banks.

Bassi also made insurance premium payments on a whole life policy, canceled the policy and kept the surrendered cash for himself.

He used the victim's money to operate Mid Mon Valley Publishing Company, investigators say.

Bassi is no longer a lawyer at his Charleroi law firm. Channel 11 asked for a comment and the firm declined.

Bassi will be sentenced in March.