TWO BRONX DAYCARE WORKERS INDICTED FOR STEALING NEARLY $130,000 FROM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

One Defendant Allegedly Used Funds for Clothes, and A Funeral

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters today announced that two Bronx women who held board member positions at now-shuttered East Tremont Head Start Alumni Day Care Center have been charged with Grand Larceny and related crimes for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit for their personal use. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants betrayed the trust of the organization they had long been board members of, together allegedly stealing nearly $130,000. Their reckless actions contributed to the closing of this daycare, resulting in children and workers who had to be placed in other facilities. We will not tolerate rip-offs of government funds.” 

 Department of Investigation Commissioner Peters said, “These defendants used this Cityfunded nonprofit like their personal ATM, pocketing tens of thousands of dollars, in some cases, to pay for shopping at Macy’s and QVC, rent, and even a funeral. As the board chair and treasurer of this nonprofit, these defendants exploited their insider access and disregarded their duty to help the low-income children that East Tremont Head Start was supposed to serve. DOI was pleased to partner with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office to stop the criminal conduct uncovered in this investigation.” 

 District Attorney Clark said defendants, Paulette New, 63, of Southern Blvd., and Angela Grindley, 56, of Morgan Ave., were indicted on third-degree Grand Larceny and third degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. New was additionally indicted on second degree Grand Larceny and second-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. Both defendants were arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett. They were released and are due back in court on January 30, 2018. If convicted of the top charge, New faces a maximum of five to 15 years in prison and Grindley faces a maximum of twoand-a-third years to seven years in prison.

 According to the investigation, from April 2011 to April 2015, New, who was the chairperson of the board of the East Tremont Head Start Alumni Day Care Center, improperly used approximately $100,000 of the Center’s funds. The defendant allegedly frequently withdrew money from the Center’s account from ATM machines and made several transfers to her bank account, using much of the money to purchase personal items from televised home shopping sites QVC and HSN. She also allegedly used the Center’s fund to pay for her sister’s funeral.

 According to the investigation, starting in 2013, Grindley, who was on the board as the daycare’s treasurer, allegedly received more than $29,000 from the nonprofit.

 The investigation was conducted with DOI’s Office of Inspector General for City-funded not-for-profits.

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.