A Manhattan apartment building super, once publicly hailed as a dedicated caregiver, allegedly stole more than $350,000 from a 100-year-old resident before giving her power of attorney. Had agreed.
Rosalind Hernandez, 56, was convicted on Thursday of duping an elderly victim into giving her access to her life savings, which she used to spend on clothes, lingerie and other personal expenses for about a year starting in July 2023. Blown away. According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, “The victim trusted Ms. Hernandez for help, yet after befriending her, he allegedly broke her trust and stole her hard-earned money for his personal greed.”
“Those who prey on vulnerable older adults will be held accountable.”
Hernandez, who managed a 53-unit Chelsea co-op, befriended the senior tenant and convinced him to give her power of attorney to help him handle his affairs after he had suffered a bad fall. There was no hope for his recovery.
Prosecutors said the victim, who was living out of town with his family after the injuries, offered Hernandez $100,000 to sell his apartment and take over his bank accounts.
Instead, Hernandez wrote checks totaling more than $450,000 to two people unknown to the victim, and charged more than $6,000 from the victim’s debit and credit cards on purchases that included clothing, scantily clad clothing, haircuts, and an entrepreneurship training program. Membership was included. For yourself and your niece.
It’s unclear whether the check recipients also cashed in the ill-fated scheme, but Bragg said Hernandez netted more than $350,000 of the stolen funds.
Prosecutors said she funded her own Lyft account with her card and made trips worth more than $900.
The aging victim, who eventually recovered from his injuries, revealed the crimes when he returned home and gained access to his financial accounts.
Hernandez was once praised as a “lifeline for senior tenants.” 2023 New York Times profile.
The profile labeled her as “the unofficial companion and caregiver of retirees, widows and widowers” who lived in more than half the apartments where she worked.
Defense lawyer Vic Pawar said on Thursday that he would fight the charges against his client. According to the Associated Press.
Hernandez is charged with second-degree grand theft and third-degree grand theft.
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