Man pleads guilty to duping Pa. philanthropist out of more than $1M with bogus sob stories

EASTON, Pa. – A man has admitted scamming a Pennsylvania shipping heiress out of $1.1 million a day after his wife made a similar plea.

Allentown resident Hassan Carmon pleaded guilty to one count of theft Tuesday in Northampton County Court. Prosecutors dropped remaining conspiracy and theft charges.

Authorities say Carmon and his estranged wife, Shawnta Carmon, told Bethlehem philanthropist Marlene "Linny" Fowler bogus tales about a heart transplant for a sick child and college tuition for their niece but spent the money she gave them on clothes, jewelry and gambling.

Hassan Carmon will be sentenced Nov. 15. His wife pleaded guilty to theft charges and will be sentenced Nov. 22.

Fowler was the daughter of a UPS chief executive. She died in February at age 73 while a grand jury was investigating.