Three home health aides have been arrested for allegedly stealing nearly $173,000 from an 84-year-old woman under their care, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced.
Danielle Guarino, 55, of Coram; Teresa Garcia, 53; and Mamerta Gonzalez, 72, of Ridge, face charges of grand larceny, and Guarino is also charged with identity theft. Prosecutors say the three exploited the elderly woman over more than two years while providing in-home care.
According to investigators, the victim’s physical limitations worsened between October 2019 and January 2022, leaving her unable to write checks. Her daughter began signing blank checks and gave them to Guarino to pay household bills and the aides’ wages.
Authorities allege Guarino manipulated the checks, paying herself, Garcia, and Gonzalez far more than they were entitled to based on submitted timesheets for the victim’s long-term disability insurance.
Prosecutors say Guarino allegedly overpaid herself by about $110,000, Garcia by $43,560, and Gonzalez by $7,152. To further cover the theft, Guarino reportedly altered check records, misreporting payees and amounts.
In addition, Guarino allegedly used the victim’s credit cards without authorization to make more than $12,000 in Amazon purchases, paying the resulting bills with the signed blank checks.
District Attorney Tierney praised the joint investigation by his Financial Crimes Bureau and the Suffolk County Police Department, calling it “a thorough effort to hold those accountable who exploit vulnerable individuals.”
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina added, “We remain committed to ensuring offenders who prey upon our elderly for financial gain are brought to justice.”
Garcia and Gonzalez were arraigned for third-degree grand larceny and released on their own recognizance. Guarino was arraigned on multiple charges, including second-degree grand larceny and first-degree identity theft, and was also released without bail. All three are scheduled to return to court later this month.