Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrest of the Educational Director of a Brooklyn day care center on charges of submitting an altered Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (“CPR”) Certificate to the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (“DOHMH”). DOI began its investigation after DOHMH reported discrepancies in a CPR Certificate submitted by the defendant in March 2023. The case is being prosecuted by the Office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
ANGELINA STASYUK, 40, of Staten Island, N.Y., is charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony; Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony; and Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree and Misrepresentation by a Child Day Care Provider, both class A misdemeanors. Upon conviction, a class D felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison, and a class A misdemeanor by up to a year’s incarceration.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “As charged, the defendant, an educational director of a childcare program in New York City, altered a CPR certificate so that it would appear active. This certification, which confirms current training in critical, life-saving skills, is required to operate a childcare facility. The charged conduct violates the trust parents and caregivers placed in this business. I thank the sharp-eyed Department of Health employee for reporting this matter to DOI, and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in our efforts to ensure that City childcare facilities comply with all safety-related requirements.
According to the criminal complaint, group childcare facilities in New York City must receive a DOHMH permit in order to operate, and each facility must designate an educational director, who must have certain qualifications. Since 2013 the defendant has worked as the Educational Director for Elite Kids Services, which does business as Brooklyn Tots Academy and is located at 2211 Coney Island Ave. in Brooklyn.
As charged, on February 23, 2023, DOHMH closed Brooklyn Tots Academy after a routine inspection. On March 27, 2023, following a site visit, DOHMH determined that the facility could be re-opened once the defendant obtained an active CPR certification. DOHMH received an email from the defendant on March 27, 2023, containing a copy of the defendant’s CPR certification purportedly issued on January 17, 2023, by a certified CPR Instructor. In fact, as alleged, the defendant did not take a class provided by the Instructor on that date and the issue date on the CPR Certificate had been altered. The defendant has acknowledged that she altered the date on her expired CPR Certificate and has stated that she regrets doing so.
On March 29, 2023, the defendant obtained proper recertification for CPR and submitted proper documentation to DOHMH. The day care re-opened on March 30, 2023.
Commissioner Strauber thanked Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his staff for the prosecution of this matter, which is being handled by Assistant District Attorney Tamara Edelstein, and DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan and his staff for their assistance.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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