NYC Caregiver Accused Of Stealing From Senior Brooklyn Woman
Authorities recently discovered that a New York City social worker stole more than $214,000 from the bank accounts of a 94-year-old Brooklyn woman under her care. Adult Protective Services case manager, Cecile Davidson used the elderly woman’s money to buy things for herself at from a variety of retailers, such as Bath & Body Works, Best Buy, Boston Market and more.
The 50-year-old case manager wrote herself $105,851.34 in personal checks from the senior citizen’s bank account, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. She also used a debit card linked to her account for her own benefit, withdrawing $67,366.43 from ATMs and to purchase U.S. Postal Service money orders.
“The point of sale transactions included use of the card at businesses including the US Post Office, Boston Market, Food Baszzar, Comcast Cable, NYC Taxi, Bath & Body Works, Best Buy, Target, Duane Reade, Kmart, Macy’s, and TJ Maxx,” says the indictment.
Davidson has been employed as a case manager for Village Care of New York, a subcontractor for Adult Protective Services, since 2012. The program is sponsored by the city’s Human Resources Administration, according to the district attorney. She was arrested in Georgia and arraigned in early April on grand larceny and other charges and remanded. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years behind bars.
Elder financial abuse
People over age 50 control more than 70 percent of the country’s wealth, making them prime targets for financial abuse. Many seniors don’t realize the total value of their assets, causing them to be completely oblivious to the amount of money they’re worth. Additionally, many elderly people have disabilities that require the assistance of a caregiver to allow them to live independently.
Those most at risk for this type of abuse include seniors who are lonely, isolated from their families, those who have suffered recent losses of loved ones, people without much experience managing their own finances, anyone with a physical or mental disability and those related to unemployed family members or those with a substance abuse problem.
Some of the signs that an elderly person is being taken advantage of financially include, having stacks of unpaid bills, unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts, new “best friends,” missing property and caregivers that try to shield the person from their family and friends.
NY elder financial abuse lawsuit
At The Sanders Firm, we’re fierce advocates for victims of financial elder abuse in New York. Many senior citizens rely on caregivers to help them with everyday tasks. There’s simply no excuse for anyone to take advantage of the situation and betray their trust. If you or a loved one have been victimized by a caregiver, it’s important to fight back.
The Sanders Firm specializes in bringing justice to senior citizens who have been targeted by greedy individuals looking to prey on a vulnerable person. Our NY personal injury attorneys have over 45 years of experience fighting for the rights of innocent victims in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Long Island. Call 1.800.FAIR.PLAY today to schedule a free consultation with our firm to see if you need to file a NY elder financial abuse lawsuit. Resources
- New York Post, Social Worker Accused of Stealing Over 214k from 94-Year-Old Lady https://nypost.com/2015/04/03/social-worker-accused-of-stealing-over-214k-from-94-year-old-lady/
- National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Financial Abuse https://www.preventelderabuse.org/elderabuse/fin_abuse.html
