FORMER RESIDENCE MANAGER OF A GROUP HOME FOR MENTALLY CHALLENGED ADULTS IS ARRESTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a fifteen month long investigation by the Bronx DA Detective Investigators has uncovered an embezzlement scheme by a 42 year-old former Residence Manager of the Sedgwick Group Home, managed by Episcopal Social Services totaling more than $50,000 in misappropriated funds.

Yvette Belmar, of 2175 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, was arraigned today before Criminal Court Judge Judith S. Lieb, and charged with 1 count of Grand larceny in the 2nd degree, a class "C" felony offense, 1 count of Falsifying business records in the 1st degree, a class "E" felony offense and Falsifying business records in the 2nd degree, a class "A" misdemeanor offense. If convicted of the most serious charge of grand larceny, Belmar faces a maximum term of up to 15 years imprisonment. Belmar was released on her own recognizance and ordered to return to court on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 in part F3.

It is alleged that Belmar, whose salary was approximately $37,080, embezzled small sums of money from the petty cash account beginning in January 1999, continuing undetected until October 2001. Following an internal audit, the defendant was terminated. The audit concluded that Belmar allegedly misappropriated funds earmarked for the clients at the Sedgwick Group Home by making withdrawals from the ATM. It is further alleged that Belmar submitted false information on petty cash receipts and reimbursement forms to justify the ATM withdrawals.

Mr. Johnson thanked the following members of Episcopal Social Services for their help with this case; Steven Chinlund, Executive Director, Claude Meyers, Associate Executive Director, Steve Viafore, Chief Fiscal Officer, Robert Nugent, Director of the OMRDD program and Donald Johnson and Patrick Murphy of the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Johnson also acknowledged the hard work of Bronx District Attorney’s Senior Detective Investigators Wilfred Melendez and Peter Moro.

Assistant District Attorney Pina M. Terranova of the Arson / Auto / Economic Crimes Bureau is prosecuting this case.