A flamboyant Philadelphian socialite who outsmarted the town’s Republican elite with extravagant fundraisers earlier than changing into notorious for a $20 million insurance coverage fraud has died.
Claire Risoldi, 76, recognized for her bouffant haircut, mirrored aviators and six-bedroom property named Clairemont, died July 14 earlier than she might serve any jail time for the large fraud.
No data on a reason for dying has been launched.
Risoldi was recognized for trying youthful than her years due to a penchant for thick make-up, eye-catching vogue – and a taut however full face that instructed a penchant for beauty surgical procedure.
The matriarch of one in every of Philly’s most well-known households, Risoldi, was convicted in 2019 after masterminding a plot with a number of relations to assert $20 million in insurance coverage advantages following a hearth of their residence.
She was charged alongside along with her late husband, Thomas French, a retired sheriff’s deputy who took his personal life three weeks earlier than the trial, leaving a word saying the “pressure (had) reached its peak.”
Before she fell from grace, Risoldi was a serious participant in Philadelphia’s GOP circles, internet hosting glitzy Clairemont fundraisers for political candidates — full with Cher impersonators and Mummers.
Photographed in courtroom in 2016, Risoldi had a penchant for thick make-up, eye-catching vogue – and a toned however chubby face that instructed a penchant for beauty surgical procedure
Claire Risoldi, 71, recognized for her bouffant haircut, mirrored aviators and six-bedroom property named Clairemont, died July 14 earlier than she might serve a jail sentence for a large fraud
Risoldi splashed the cash from her fraud plot on luxurious automobiles, together with not less than six Ferraris and two Rolls Royces, and even a gaudy, hand-painted ceiling mural that depicted her in traditional Roman costume (pictured)
A photograph reveals work in progress on the ostentatious ceiling mural that Risoldi financed with fraud cash
Notorious Philadelphia socialite Claire Risoldi has handed away on the age of 76. Risoldi was well-known for her extravagant appears to be like and the mastermind behind a number of insurance coverage frauds
Risoldi’s Philadelphia mansion is ablaze. She made hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in fraudulent insurance coverage claims after a number of fires on the property
Risoldi gained over the massive and good individuals of the town along with her no-nonsense character and gregarious nature. She was so well-connected that after her indictment within the fraud case, all the Bucks County judiciary withdrew from the case and a decide from one other county needed to be appointed.
She stood trial in March 2015 along with her two grownup youngsters, her daughter-in-law and two others. An investigation into the household’s claims started after a 2013 fireplace on the stately residence in Doylestown. It was the constructing’s third fireplace in 5 years.
After the fires, the household reportedly lived massive on trumped-up insurance coverage claims and tried to intimidate witnesses once they realized investigations into the payouts have been underway.
Risoldi additionally falsely accused firefighters responding to the 2013 blaze of stealing $10 million value of jewellery.
The household splashed the money on luxurious automobiles, together with not less than six Ferraris and two Rolls Royces, and even a gaudy, hand-painted ceiling mural that depicted Risoldi in classical Roman costume.
Risoldi was sentenced to 11.5 to 23 months in jail, however by no means served time after a sequence of appeals postponed the sentence. She was nonetheless concerned within the authorized battle when she died.
She was additionally ordered to pay $10.4 million in restitution. The quantity was later diminished to $2.7 million by a decide on enchantment.
The roof of the property is being repaired in 2015 after one of many fires that broken it
Risoldi’s husband Thomas French – a retired sheriff’s deputy – dedicated suicide three weeks earlier than their trial for fraud was on account of start
The photograph reveals a mansion the Risoldi’s rented whereas their home was being repaired
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who’s now the state’s governor, stated after Risoldi was convicted in May 2019, “This defendant masterminded a multi-million dollar insurance fraud scheme to fund her own lavish lifestyle.”
Risoldi was compelled handy over Clairemont to cowl a part of the restitution order and the property, set on 4 acres, bought at public sale in 2019 for $750,000.
The home, with a swimming pool and pool home, was renovated and later bought by an actual property firm for $3 million.
Risoldi was twice widowed after her first husband, Carl P. Risoldi, as soon as the patriarch of the household, additionally died in 2001 at age 58.
She grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, and within the Seventies ran a ticket workplace that promoted rock live shows.
The supply of the household’s wealth is murky, however Risoldi had claimed her first husband collected incapacity advantages and in addition stated he made “millions” as a stonemason.
She additionally had a 1990 sentence for 2 counts of felony mail fraud after she used false medical paperwork to defraud an insurance coverage firm of $13,028.
Risoldi had stated she was engaged on a e-book about her life after her convictions.