A home health attendant has been indicted for stealing approximately $55,000 from her 98-year-old Forest Hills patient who is suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to authorities.
Tameka Nunes, 31, of 841 East 227 Street in the Bronx is charged with systematically withdrawing the tens of thousands of dollars in cash in increments of $200 to $800 on almost a daily basis from the end of May 2011 until November 1, 2011. Most withdrawals were done at the J.P. Morgan Chase branch, using the ATM located at 100-12 Queens Boulevard, near the victim’s home.
“This is a tragic case of a health care worker who was entrusted to look after the well-being of this frail woman but instead allegedly treated her as a cash cow. Luckily, bank officials noticed a troubling pattern of withdrawals and an investigation was commenced.”
Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder delivered a four-count indictment charging Nunes with second- and third-degree grand larceny and second- and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. She was ordered held on $15,000 bail and will return to court on September 13, 2013.
According to DA Brown’s office, the defendant worked as a home health aide for the victim, who was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Because of the frequency of withdrawals, J.P. Morgan Chase opened a fraud investigation into the case and its investigator subsequently gave the investigation over to the New York City Human Resource Administration’s Adult Protective Services.
The victim was examined by a psychiatrist from the New York City Office of Health and Mental Services in December 2011. That examination confirmed the validity of a diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The bank investigator allegedly spoke to the defendant over the phone and was told by her that the victim authorized the withdrawals. Right after the conversation, the defendant resigned her position with the victim.
Law enforcement officials say that bank video surveillance shows the defendant withdrawing funds from the victim’s account using an ATM machine on multiple occasions.
If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.
By Samantha Geary
