BRONX DAY CARE OPERATOR CHARGED WITH STEALING OVER $29,000 IN PUBLIC DAY CARE FUNDS

Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrest of the operator of My Precious Little Angels Day Care in the Bronx on charges that he stole City funds by falsely representing to the City Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”) that two children had attended the Bronx in-home day care between July 2020 and March 2022 when in fact they had not attended. NYPD notified DOI of these allegations, which surfaced in a separate criminal investigation, and DOI investigated the matter with the Office of Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, which is prosecuting the case. 

JAIME H. SANCHEZ, 64, of Bronx, N.Y., was charged with two counts each of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, which are class D felonies, and two counts each of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, which are class E felonies; and 21 counts each of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, both class E felonies. Upon conviction, a class D felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison. SANCHEZ was arraigned this afternoon and released on his own recognizance.  

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “As charged, this defendant falsified invoices submitted to ACS to steal $29,111 in public funds intended to allow families in need to send their children to day care. This conduct drains vital public resources intended to support New York City families. DOI is simultaneously recommending that ACS perform an administrative review of all of the vouchers and any other forms submitted by the defendant. I thank the NYPD for referring this matter to DOI and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its partnership in protecting taxpayer resources.” 

According to the criminal complaint, from July 2020 through March 2022, SANCHEZ submitted invoice request for payment forms to obtain publicly funded stipends for two children, reflecting that the children were attending the day care. However, as of July 2020, the children were living in a homeless shelter with their parent and were no longer attending My Precious Little Angels Day Care. Based on the invoices submitted, the defendant defrauded ACS of a total of $29,111 in public day care funds. 

A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.