Alfonso "Alfie" Picone, 44, of 181 Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua, part owner and manager of La Dolce Casa/DiMaggio's Restaurant in Tamaqua, was arrested Thursday and arraigned on charges related to bilking an elderly couple out of more than $315,000.

Rush Township police charged Picone with felony counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities with intent to promote, knowledge that property is proceeds of an illegal act, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by deception/false impression and theft by deception/prevention of acquisition of information.Last December, township police were contacted by Brian Campbell of the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services. Campbell was investigating the possible exploitation of an elderly Lake Hauto couple.According to the affidavit, Campbell spoke with the man on Dec. 24, 2014, and expressed "his concern regarding the couple's financial relationship with Alfonso Picone."Campbell also told the husband that Picone had "been the defendant in multiple lawsuits, for non-payment of services, and had been convicted of failure to pay sales tax."He provided public records of Picone's court history and explained that was why he wanted to speak to them.The husband then said he had loaned Picone $40,000 and added his name to their checking account in July 2014.He also said he began moving money from the couple's portfolio account, transferring it to an account managed by a friend of Picone's. He couldn't remember that friend's name.The couple agreed to have the Office of Senior Services look into the situation.Campbell scheduled a forensic financial audit as well as a health check up to determine the couple's financial competency.Dr. Gary Champlin diagnosed the couple with neurocognitive disorder.Upon further investigation, Campbell discovered the victims had loaned Picone money more than once.The first time, it was for $20,000, none of which was repaid.Picone's name was added to the couple's Wells Fargo checking account on July 31, 2014 to "make it easier for Picone to help them manage their money," according to a conversation between Campbell and the husband.At no time, according to the couple, did they give him approval to pay his own personal bills out of their account.The audit found numerous checks made out to entities that have no connection to the couple, as well as several large withdrawals and deposits.That includes checks to contractors, checks made out to Picone and a check for $5,000 made payable to La Dolce Casa. In total, $315,492.47 was paid to Picone from the couple's account between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2014, according to an audit conducted by Linda Mill, a certified fraud examiner with Temple University.Picone was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer, of Tamaqua, who set bail at $100,000, 10 percent.Family members brought the cash to the judge's office a short time later. Picone was warned not to have any contact with the victims or their family.