Worker accused of stealing almost $1 million from Chesco farm owners

A PART-TIME worker at a Chester County farm has been charged with stealing more than $900,000 from his employers to pay for luxury vehicles, a trip to the Bahamas, and student loans, police said.

Clifton K. Willson, 35, of Bryn Mawr, was arrested Thursday and faces 299 charges of theft, forgery, and related offenses. He is accused of stealing 148 blank checks from Esther and Paul Gansky while he worked as a painter on their Heartwood Farm on Providence Road in Willistown Township. Police said Willson forged Esther Gansky's signature and deposited the checks, totaling $927,100, in various personal accounts. He bought two Maserati sports cars, a Porsche SUV, a Land Rover, a rental home, and a family vacation to the Bahamas, police said. He also admitted using the money for private school tuition for his children, electronics, jewelry, home remodeling expenses, and student loans, according to police.

In February, the Ganskys discovered that an unauthorized $18,000 check had been made out to Willson, and alerted police, who started an investigation. The couple fired Willson, who had worked at the farm since May 2014, paid $900 per week. John Narcise, Willistown's police chief, said the case was "a sad reminder that people and businesses need to be very careful about whom they trust."

Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan said Willson had paid back more than $500,000. "The only good news here," Hogan said, "is that the defendant and his attorney were immediately cooperative." Willson posted $500,000 unsecured bail Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.

- Michaelle Bond