FORMER TENANT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLEMENT AND RELATED CHARGES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 51 year-old former tenant association president has been convicted of embezzling nearly $75,000 over a period of three years from the 1105 College Avenue Tenants Association.

Gloria Bailey, of 9400 Abercorn Street, Savanna GA, pled guilty to 1 count each of Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree and Falsifying business records in the 2nd degree. Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven L. Barrett set sentencing for Monday, June 9, 2003 in Part M60. Under the terms of the plea agreement Bailey waived her right to an early release, and was promised a term of 1 year imprisonment for each offense to be served concurrently. In addition, the defendant will be issued an order for restitution in the amount of $74,843.

The multi-agency probe included investigations by the Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the Department of Investigations (DOI), which began in November 2000 following a complaint from a fellow Board Member who noticed questionable accounting irregularities. It was determined that Bailey misappropriated nearly $75,000 in funds earmarked for the maintenance of 1105 College Avenue, a City owned building, managed by HPD.

The investigation revealed that beginning in August 1997, Bailey wrote checks payable to herself and three family members which went undetected until November 2000. Upon the completion of an investigation by DOI, the case was referred to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Mr. Johnson thanked Albert Velez, Unit Chief of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Francis Sinatra, of the Department of Investigation and Muriel Moses, Associate Investigative Auditor for the Office of the Inspector General for their help in developing this case.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Sullivan of the Rackets Bureau is prosecuting this case.