A Manhattan condo constructing tremendous who was as soon as publicly hailed as a loyal caregiver allegedly persuaded a 100-year-old resident to grant her energy of legal professional earlier than stealing greater than $350,000 from the centenarian.
Rosalind Hernandez, 56, was indicted Thursday for deceiving the aged sufferer into giving her entry to his life financial savings, which she then blew on garments, lingerie, and different private bills for almost a yr beginning in July 2023, in keeping with the Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace.
“The victim relied on Ms. Hernandez for help, yet after she befriended him, she allegedly broke his trust and stole his hard-earned money for her personal greed,” District Lawyer Alvin Bragg stated.
“Those who prey on vulnerable older adults will be held accountable.”
Hernandez, who managed the 53-unit Chelsea co-op, befriended the senior tenant and satisfied him to grant her energy of legal professional to assist deal with his affairs after he suffered a nasty fall from which he wasn’t anticipated to recuperate.
The sufferer, who was residing with household out of city after his damage, provided Hernandez $100,000 to promote his condo and oversee his financial institution accounts, prosecutors stated.
Hernandez as a substitute wrote checks totaling greater than $450,000 to 2 individuals unknown to the sufferer, and racked up greater than $6,000 on the sufferer’s debit and bank cards on purchases, that included clothes, scantily clad underwear, haircuts, and a subscription to an entrepreneurship coaching program for herself and her niece.
It’s unclear if the recipients of the checks additionally cashed in on the sick scheme, however Bragg stated Hernandez netted greater than $350,000 of stolen funds.
She additionally funded her personal Lyft account together with his card and revamped $900 value of journeys, prosecutors stated.
The geriatric sufferer, who finally recovered from his accidents, uncovered the crimes when he returned house and regained entry to his monetary accounts.
Hernandez as soon as was praised as a “lifeline for senior tenants” in a 2023 New York Instances profile.
The profile labeled her as “the unofficial companion and caregiver to the retirees, widows and widowers” who lived in additional than half of the residences the place she labored.
Protection legal professional, Vik Pawar, stated Thursday he’ll battle the costs towards his shopper, in keeping with the Related Press.
Hernandez is charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree grand larceny.
