Bilked Tahoe man gets $110,000 of his $250,000 back

After months of avoiding authorities, Diane Yonko, 47, and her son Steve, 31, of Hayward, Calif., turned themselves in Tuesday. Douglas County warrants for the arrests of the mother and son, both American Gypsies, had been issued Feb. 3.

Also charged in the case is Margaret Venus Loeo, 23, arrested March 16 in Hayward. The three allegedly concocted a scheme to get Loeo romantically involved with Anthony Brusca, 82, in order to steal his savings.

The Yonkos pleaded guilty in Tahoe Justice Court to a misdemeanor charge of obtaining money under false pretenses from a victim over 65 years of age. In addition to the $110,000 returned to Brusca, they agreed to pay $25,000 more within two years.

Under terms of a plea agreement, the Yonkos' sentence of one year in jail is deferred for two years. If they pay the money within that time frame, they won't have to serve jail time.

Both were released after entering their pleas. Loeo, under house arrest at her mother's home in Sacramento, is scheduled to stand trial Aug. 25.

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