A Manhattan apartment building super who was once publicly hailed as a devoted caregiver allegedly persuaded a 100-year-old resident to grant her power of attorney before stealing more than $350,000 from the centenarian.
Rosalind Hernandez, 56, was indicted Thursday for deceiving the elderly victim into giving her access to his life savings, which she then blew on clothes, lingerie, and other personal expenses for nearly a year starting in July 2023, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
“The victim relied on Ms. Hernandez for help, yet after she befriended him, she allegedly broke his trust and stole his hard-earned money for her personal greed,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.
“Those who prey on vulnerable older adults will be held accountable.”
Hernandez, who managed the 53-unit Chelsea co-op, befriended the senior tenant and convinced him to grant her power of attorney to help handle his affairs after he suffered a nasty fall from which he wasn’t expected to recover.
The victim, who was living with family out of town after his injury, offered Hernandez $100,000 to sell his apartment and oversee his bank accounts, prosecutors said.
Hernandez instead wrote checks totaling more than $450,000 to two people unknown to the victim, and racked up more than $6,000 on the victim’s debit and credit cards on purchases that included clothing, scantily clad undies, haircuts, and a subscription to an entrepreneurship training program for herself and her niece.
It’s unclear if the recipients of the checks also cashed in on the sick scheme, but Bragg said Hernandez netted more than $350,000 of stolen funds.
She also funded her own Lyft account with his card and made over $900 worth of trips, prosecutors said.
The geriatric victim, who eventually recovered from his injuries, uncovered the crimes when he returned home and regained access to his financial accounts.
Hernandez once was praised as a “lifeline for senior tenants” in a 2023 New York Times profile.
The profile labeled her as “the unofficial companion and caregiver to the retirees, widows and widowers” who lived in more than half of the apartments where she worked.
Defense attorney, Vik Pawar, said Thursday he will fight the charges against his client, according to the Associated Press.
Hernandez is charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree grand larceny.