DATE: Tuesday, September 16, 1997           TAG: 9709150075

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Public Safety 

SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   72 lines

SWINDLED OUT OF $20,000, MAN RECEIVES A $14 CHECK

The check was in the mail.

It arrived last month, unexpected, at the home of Charles and Lillian DeStefano. The cover letter from a federal court clerk explained everything - almost.

``Pursuant to a court order,'' the letter said, ``enclosed please find a United States Treasury check No. 00272508 in the amount of $14.00 payable to Charles and Lillian DeStefano for payment towards the $20,000 restitution owed concerning the above-referenced matter.''

Charles DeStefano was stunned.

``That came out of the blue,'' he said. ``Doesn't that give you a laugh? It cost more to print the check.''

Two years ago, the DeStefanos were victims of a Virginia Beach con man who stole about $300,000 from 14 families. Robert K. Williams pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 1995 and was sentenced to two years in prison. He also was ordered to pay back the $286,816 he stole.

Charles DeStefano, a 74-year-old retired maintenance mechanic, figured he'd never see the money.

He lost his entire life savings to the swindler - about $20,000. He entrusted the money to Williams' College Planning Services as a kind of insurance policy. DeStefano planned to live off some of the money, but save most of it for his wife in case he died. He had no commercial life insurance.

That was in 1995. Then DeStefano, a white-haired, bespectacled man, learned that Williams had run off to Egypt with the money.

``I couldn't believe it,'' DeStefano recalled. ``He seemed all right, very intelligent.''

After Williams' conviction, the DeStefanos wrote off the money. That hurt. Suddenly, the couple had just $1,187 a month to live on, from Social Security and pensions. That barely covers living expenses in the couple's modest London Bridge townhouse.

Medication alone costs Charles DeStefano $200 a month. Much of that is for heart and blood pressure ailments. He has suffered three strokes in recent years and still has trouble walking. He attributes some medical problems to stress from the Williams' case.

``It's like going from middle class to the bread line,'' DeStefano said. ``I can't afford to go to the movie, or eat a meal out, or travel anyplace. . bottom falls out.''

Then the check arrived.

It was dated July 11 and came without warning. DeStefano was surprised, then angry.

``I was wild. I thought it was a slap in the face,'' he said. ``They never told me where he is, what he's doing. How they arrived at a figure like $14, I'll never know.

``I was so (angry), I was shaking. I would rather not get a check for anything than to get a check for $14. That's an insult.''

At first, DeStefano planned to frame the check and letter. ``Then I thought, why give the son of a b---- the satisfaction? It's $14 out of his pocket.''

A court clerk said Williams is still in prison and has begun to pay restitution. The court doles it out to Williams' 14 victim families as it comes in.

But Williams' attorney, James O. Broccoletti, said Williams is now a free man, having served all his prison time.

As for DeStefano, the victim, he received his second $14 restitution check on Aug. 21. At this rate, it will take 119 years to pay back the entire $20,000.

``At this rate,'' DeStefano said, ``my great-great-grandchildren will have to calculate the balance.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Charles DeStefano KEYWORDS: UPDATE

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