Detectives from the Allegheny County District Attorney's office arrested a McDonald man today for allegedly scamming his grandmother out of her home.

Tony Armstead, 38, was charged with two counts of theft for taking money and property from Helen Armstead, of Oakland, who thought she was getting money for repairs from a "program," while Mr. Armstead actually had sold the property.

According to a criminal complaint, Mr. Armstead told his grandmother in 2006 he wanted to reopen a storefront that was part of the Oakland property. For the needed repairs, Mr. Armstead said they could get money from a program, and that Ms. Armstead should transfer ownership to him for a little while and he would later give it back.

Acting with power of attorney for Ms. Armstead -- though she allegedly never had given it to him -- Mr. Armstead then sold the property to his father-in-law, David Hull, of Washington, Pa., for $60,000. He gave Ms. Armstead a $17,000 check, which she thought was from a program for the repairs.

Mr. Hull told investigators that he entered into a rent-to-own agreement with Mr. Armstead so he could buy back the home, but Mr. Armstead's payments since then have been sporadic and he has made no effort to reopen the store. Mr. Armstead also used $13,800 of the money gained by refinancing the home to pay off a previous loan, authorities said.