Investigators say two employees at a Westchester group home allegedly tapped into the bank accounts of adults with disabilities, using the money for online purchases, clothing and everyday expenses.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Two employees of a Westchester County group home have been charged after authorities uncovered an alleged scheme in which money belonging to residents with disabilities was used to pay for the workers’ personal purchases.
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced charges against 28-year-old Nadajah Jackson of Yonkers and 25-year-old Destiny Galan of Staten Island.
According to prosecutors, both women worked for the Association for Mentally Ill Children of Westchester, known as AMIC, and are accused of accessing residents’ banking information without authorization.
Investigators allege Jackson used the accounts of four residents to make purchases from Amazon and other retailers between November 2022 and January 2025. Authorities claim the transactions totaled $45,448.47.
Jackson is charged with third-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud and two counts of petit larceny.
She was arraigned Tuesday in Tarrytown Justice Court and released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to return to court on July 1.
Prosecutors allege Galan carried out a separate scheme involving two residents’ bank accounts between May and August 2024.
Authorities said she spent $2,038.03 on Amazon purchases that included clothing and food.
Galan is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud and petit larceny. She is expected to be arraigned July 1 in Tarrytown Justice Court.
The alleged victims are adults with varying levels of intellectual and physical disabilities who relied on the group home for care and support.
The investigation was conducted by the Office of the State Comptroller, the Tarrytown Police Department and investigators with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Economic Crimes Bureau.
The charges are accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- Two Westchester group home employees are accused of using residents’ banking information for personal purchases.
- Prosecutors allege one defendant spent more than $45K from residents’ accounts, while another allegedly spent more than $2,000.
- The alleged victims are adults with intellectual and physical disabilities living in group homes.
