Gloria Byars lived a life of luxury, but it was all funded by the money she stole from the most vulnerable. As a court-appointed guardian, Byars managed the finances of over 100 elderly and incapacitated individuals. She siphoned off more than $1.5 million from their life savings, using the funds to finance exotic vacations, lavish parties, and designer goods. Her crimes were extensive, spanning from 2012 to 2018, and they devastated her victims.
On August 9, 2024, just days before her sentencing, Byars was found dead in her Delaware County home. Authorities suspect suicide and are investigating, but her death has left her victims feeling betrayed once again. They were deprived of the justice they desperately sought.
Unraveling the Crimes
Byars’ downfall began in 2017 when Heidi Austin discovered that she had stolen from her elderly aunt and uncle, Edmund and Margareta Berg. The Bergs, both in their 80s, trusted the state’s guardianship system to protect their finances as their health declined. Instead, Byars moved Margareta to a rehab facility without notifying the family and later sold the Bergs’ home while she vacationed in Spain, using money stolen from other wards.
Austin’s discovery led to a broader investigation. Authorities found that Byars, despite her long criminal history—including 13 fraud convictions—had been entrusted with managing the finances of over 100 wards across multiple Pennsylvania counties. Byars drained their accounts, including a $756,000 Thrift Savings Plan belonging to a retired federal employee, and even stole 36 valuable gold Krugerrand coins from a ward’s safety deposit box. Her greed knew no bounds. She threw extravagant parties, including a $750-per-person birthday bash, using money stolen from her wards.
A Guilty Plea and Co-Conspirators
In November 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that Byars pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud. Her co-conspirator and brother, Carlton Rembert, was also found guilty after a four-day trial. Together, they ran a scheme involving shell companies in Virginia, where they funneled stolen money through fraudulent businesses. Rembert and his partner withdrew over $500,000 in cash, sending most of it back to Byars while keeping a share for themselves.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office collaborated to bring Byars and her accomplices to justice. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero stated, “Fraud, particularly at the expense of vulnerable people, will not be tolerated.” The investigation revealed the shocking extent of Byars’ betrayal and highlighted the systemic failures that allowed her to exploit so many vulnerable individuals.
A Broken System and the Aftermath
Byars’ ability to infiltrate and abuse the guardianship system exposed significant flaws in state oversight. At the time of her appointment, Pennsylvania required only basic literacy in English to become a guardian. No background checks were necessary, allowing Byars, fresh out of prison, to gain control of her wards’ finances without scrutiny.
The Bergs were just one of many families devastated by Byars’ actions. Austin, the Bergs’ niece, expressed her frustration and anger, stating, “She took the easy way out, and all of the hundreds of victims get nothing.” Byars’ death closed the criminal proceedings against her, but it left her victims with a deep sense of injustice.
Justice Unfulfilled
Since Byars’ crimes were exposed, some reforms have been implemented, including mandatory criminal background checks for court-appointed guardians in Pennsylvania. However, many believe these changes are too little, too late. The damage has been done, and for many of Byars’ victims, the financial and emotional toll will never be fully repaired.
Byars’ death may have closed one of Pennsylvania’s most egregious cases of elder fraud, but it also serves as a stark reminder. The justice system, designed to protect those who cannot protect themselves, failed at every turn.
A Final Note
The FBI, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and the IRS investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiwana Wright and Samuel Dalke leading the prosecution. Byars faced significant prison time, but her sudden death robbed her victims of the full measure of justice.