FORMER ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT AT THE RIVERDALE COUNTRY SCHOOL CHARGED WITH GRAND LARCENY AND FORGERY IN THEFT OF MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 50 year old Peekskill, New York resident has been arrested and charged with stealing more than half a million dollars from the Riverdale Country School.

The grand jury indicted Eileen Koranteng on one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony offense, one count of Forgery in the 2nd degree, a Class D felony offense, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd degree, a Class D felony offense. Koranteng, is facing a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charge of Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree.

Koranteng, a native of Guyana, was arraigned on the indictment before State Supreme Court Justice John Byrne who set bail at $250,000 and ordered that she surrender her passport. The judge also ordered an examination of surety to make sure that the source of bail, if posted, is not from the proceeds of the crimes alleged.

From 1997 until December 2006, the defendant was employed as an Accounting Assistant in the Student Billing and Payroll Department at the Riverdale Country School from at an annual salary of $61,000. It is alleged that beginning in July 2001 through December 2006 Koranteng embezzled tuition payments and skimmed cash generated by the school cafeteria and school fund raising events. The total amount allegedly stolen was approximately $508,000.

District Attorney Johnson thanked Senior Bronx DA Detective Investigators Daniel Clark-El, Vincent Cantarella and Joseph Iodice for their hard work which resulted in this indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Miriam Bell-Blair.