Mother, daughter accused of stealing $4.4M from Greensburg Beverage CEO's estate

A mother and daughter were arrested Thursday on police accusations they stole a relative’s $4.4 million inheritance from the estate of the CEO of Greensburg Beverage, according to court papers.

Angela Lynne Valesky, 26, of Murrysville, and her mother, Lisa Anne Skatell-Valesky, 51, of Jeannette, are charged with theft and dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts involving the estate of Skatell-Valesky’s mother, Bette Iannuzzo.

Westmoreland County Detective Ray Dupilka said in court papers the pair used the money to buy homes in Murrysville and Jeannette. They also purchased a Lincoln Navigator SUV.

Bette Iannuzzo took over as CEO of Greensburg Beverage in 2013 when her husband of 28 years, G. Lewis “Sonny” Iannuzzo, died. When Betty Iannuzzo died at 73 in 2017, an estate was opened for assets and properties to be disbursed among her heirs.

Lisa Skatell-Valesky’s sister, Jennifer Skatell-Knopp of Florida, inquired with her attorney in November about the status of the estate, which prompted the police investigation. Attorneys involved with the estate learned a disbursement hearing was held Dec. 2, 2022, during which Skatell-Knopp’s $4.4 million inheritance was released.

But police believe a woman who participated in that hearing by phone and presented herself as Skatell-Knopp may have actually been her sister. Skatell-Knopp denied testifying by telephone during that hearing and said she didn’t authorize her sister to take control of her inheritance check or make any deposits, purchases or transfers, according to court papers.

Skatell-Valesky was to have received $193,200 from her mother’s estate, police said. A $3.5 million judgement was filed against her in 2018 in Westmoreland County civil court by Greensburg Beverage.

A related lawsuit indicated Skatell-­Valesky sought a court appointment as her mother’s guardian before her death, replaced the company’s board of directors, leased several vehicles and set up weekly disbursements to herself, her sister and other relatives.

She was later removed as guardian by a court, according to the lawsuit.

The $4.4 million inheritance was released during that December 2022 hearing by check made payable to Skatell-Knopp and turned over to a Pittsburgh attorney, according to court papers. It was later deposited into a joint account opened in the names of Skatell-Knopp and Angela Valesky. Between December 2022 and May 2023, several million dollars were transferred to multiple other accounts, and the account was closed in May 2023 when a check was issued to Skatell-Valesky for $1.9 million, authorities said.

Angela Valesky paid $122,000 for the Lincoln Navigator that was later titled over to Skatell-Valesky and $175,000 for her Murrysville property, police said. Skatell-Valesky bought her Jeannette property for $400,000, according to court papers.

Bail for both suspects was denied. They were being held at the Westmoreland County jail. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Jan. 23. A message was left for attorneys listed in online court records as representing them.

Greensburg Beverage was acquired in January 2019 by Inco Beverage of Johnstown.