An heir to the Astor fortune was released by New York authorities on medical parole on Thursday in New York – exactly two months after he was sent to prison for swindling millions of dollars from his ill mother’s estate.
Anthony Marshall was sentenced to serve one to three years in Fishkill Correctional Facility for grand larceny, according to the New York State Parole Board. Marshall was accused of pilfering money from his the late mother Brooke Astor’s fortune while she suffered from dementia.
When Marshall was sentenced — after a long, repeatedly-delayed trial — his lawyers argued that the 89-year-old was too old and sick to serve his prison sentence. The lawyers said Marshall has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Members of the parole board met with Marshall on Wednesday before authorizing his release, according to the department's Website.
“The purpose of medical parole is to reunite terminally or chronically ill inmates and those who suffer from significant debilitating illness with their families and loved ones during the final stages of illness and to allow death with dignity outside of prison,” the department it explains on the Website.
“We’re gratified by the Parole Board’s unanimous and compassionate decision,” one of Marshall's lawyers, Ken Warner, said on Thursday.
Marshall is the only child of Brooke Astor and Vincent Astor, whose father was the extremely wealthy financier, John Jacob Astor IV. Brooke Astor inherited her husband's fortune when he died and was regarded as an elite New York City socialite and philanthropist.