FORMER BOOKKEEPER FOR BROOKLYN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR CONVICTED OF STEALING MORE THAN $2.6 MILLION FROM ESTATES OF DECEASED INDIVIDUALS
Two other individuals previously entered guilty pleas in connection to the scheme. On July 8, 2013, RANSEL SANGSTER, 37, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, and GEORGE BETHEA, 36, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. On September 24, 2013, SANGSTER was sentenced to 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in state prison. BETHEA is expected to be sentenced on November 19, 2013. “Today, a jury held a former public servant and his associate accountable for stealing from the people that he was entrusted to serve,” said District Attorney Vance. “My Office’s Public Integrity Unit is dedicated to ensuring that the public’s trust is not misplaced in those who would line their own pockets with public funds. I strongly encourage New Yorkers to call our Public Integrity Hotline at 212-335-8987 to report any suspected abuses. I would like to thank Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn for her office’s assistance in the investigation.” The Public Administrator of each county oversees the estates of people who die without a will, also called “intestates.” If no next of kin or beneficiaries come forward, the Public Administrator maintains the funds and assets of the decedent’s estate, and the money eventually is transferred to the New York City Department of Finance (“DOF”). As proven at trial, as the bookkeeper for the Kings County Public Administrator’s Office, PAUL’S responsibilities included transferring money from intestates to the DOF. From August 2008 to November 2011, PAUL stole approximately $2.6 million by rerouting funds intended for the DOF to individuals who were not authorized to receive the funds. MILLER was convicted of helping PAUL facilitate the scheme. According to his guilty plea, SANGSTER received a forged Public Administrator’s check in the amount of $390,287.41 in August 2008, when he was working at the New York City Department of Homeless Services. SANGSTER also received another unauthorized check in the amount of $200,000 in November 2011, when he was employed as a corrections officer by the New York City Department of Correction. According to his guilty plea, BETHEA, who is MILLER’s husband, received $150,000 of the stolen funds. Assistant District Attorneys Brian P. Weinberg and Joseph Vizcarrondo handled the prosecution of this case with the assistance of Senior Investigative Counsel Thomas Mooney, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Daniel G. Cort, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, Daniel Brownell, Chief of the Rackets Bureau, and Executive Assistant District Attorney David M. Szuchman, Chief of the Investigation Division. Deputy Chief Financial Investigator Michael Kelly and Senior Rackets Investigator Donato Siciliano of the Investigation Bureau also assisted in the investigation. Trial Preparation Assistant Sara Dennis also provided assistance. District Attorney Vance thanked DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn for her office’s assistance in the investigation, as well as Assistant Commissioner Keith Schwam, Chief Auditor Floralba Paulino, and Detective Raymond Casablanca of the NYPD’s Department of Investigations Squad. Defendant Information: RICHARD PAUL, D.O.B. 11/21/1977 Brooklyn, NY Convicted: TARYN MILLER, D.O.B. 10/18/1978 Brooklyn, NY Convicted: RANSEL SANGSTER, D.O.B. 08/13/1976 Brooklyn, NY Convicted: Sentenced: GEORGE BETHEA, D.O.B. 09/25/1977 Brooklyn, NY Convicted: