Doorman near Columbia University charged with stealing $500,000 from elderly former resident in nursing home.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office recently charged a doorman, Alfredo Mateo, with embezzling $477,685 from a retired schoolteacher who had moved to a nursing home and later passed away. Mateo, 38, allegedly stole 26 checks from the woman’s bank account, writing them to himself with false explanations in the memo line. The district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for exploiting vulnerable community members.
Mateo’s lawyer has not commented on the case, and Mateo has pleaded not guilty to charges including grand larceny, fraud, and identity theft. While the schoolteacher was in the nursing home, her husband remained in their apartment until his death. Shortly after his passing, Mateo allegedly began depositing the stolen checks and redirected funds from the husband’s account into his own. He also attempted to alter the teacher’s pension payments and accessed her personal information from forms sent by the Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York.
In a bold move, Mateo impersonated the elderly woman in a phone call to the retirement system, trying to change her contact information. Despite initial failure, he made a second attempt by altering his voice to mimic hers. Mateo, who hails from Yonkers, New York, had worked as a doorman at 380 Riverside Drive for approximately five years, where he was well-liked by tenants and colleagues.
The accusations against Mateo have shocked residents and visitors of the building, with many expressing disbelief at the allegations. Marsha Hurst, a long-time resident, highlighted the unique relationship between doormen and tenants in the building, where personal connections were valued. Trust in the doormen to safeguard personal information was paramount, and many tenants, including Hurst, believed Mateo was a trustworthy individual who respected boundaries.
The case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of safeguarding personal information and the potential risks of exploitation by individuals in positions of trust. The charges against Mateo underscore the legal consequences of financial crimes and the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable members of the community.
Source: The NY Times
