Details Come to Light in Case of Missing $100K from Family Trust

On Thursday, Greenwich Police Dept Public Information officer Lt Slusarz provided additional details on the Jan 23 arrest of Joann Heerman, of 33 Brinkerhoff Ave in Stamford, who surrendered to Greenwich Police on Tuesday.

Heerman was charged with Larceny 1, a class B felony, involving theft of money from a family trust from 2009 to 2016. A complaint was filed in 2016.

On Thursday, Lt Slusarz said Heerman, who is a member of a family who owns commercial buildings at 337-339 Greenwich Avenue, was in charge of arranging the buildings’ upkeep and managing the company’s finances.

Currently on the street level, 337-339 is rented to Bistro Versailles.

Slusarz said Heerman allegedly stole amounts of money from 2009 to 2016 that went undetected until a routine audit was conducted.

Slusarz said Schiano Properties LLC owns the two buildings on Greenwich Avenue, and that several family members, including multiple siblings have a stake.

According to the Secretary of State’s web page, Schiano Properties LLC is registered to Angelo Schiano of Brook Crossway in Greenwich and Patricia Martins of Cottage Place in Greenwich.

“It’s a family trust,” Slusarz said. “She was paid a small sum to manage the property. …She was paid to manage the business and trust. During an audit, it came to light that there was questionable withdrawals over a period of time. None of them were individually suggestive.”

Slusarz said Greenwich Police, led by Detective Mark Solomon, a member of Connecticut Financial Task Force, which includes the IRS, the Postal Service, State Police and local agencies – conducted an investigation and was able to track and determine that these monies were withdrawn and that Heerman was responsible.  From there, an arrest warrant was obtained.

Ms Heerman is known in the community for a non profit she created, “Moms Love for All Kids, Inc.,” which she started after her nephew, a Marine, died in a car crash that involved speeding. Heerman visits area high schools to spread awareness of distracted driving.

The link to Heerman’s website “Moms Love for All Kids, Inc” was dead as of Thursday, but the non profit’s Facebook page said the business was founded in 2011 “to build awareness in our young community. …I want to visit as many schools as possible. …Educate teens on the dangers of SPEEDING AND TEXTING while driving. Life is TOO valuable.”

On her Facebook page, Joann Schiano Heerman indicates she is Owner/Office Manager at Sunrise Tree Care LLC in Stamford.

A post added on Wednesday said, “Believe none of what you read and hear, and only half of what you see.”

On the Connecticut Judicial Branch court case database, a case in Civil Court is pending in which Angelo Schiano Trustee is the plaintiff and Joann Heerman Trustee  is the defendant.

Heerman was released from Greenwich Police custody on Tuesday after posting a $25,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Feb. 7.

See also:

Time Catches up with Woman Sought for Stealing $100K from Former Employer in Greenwich