In a shocking breach of trust, a Manhattan doorman is now at the center of a scandal involving the theft of almost half a million dollars from an elderly resident’s pension funds.
At a Glance
- Alfredo Mateo, a Manhattan doorman, charged with embezzling nearly $478,000 from a retired schoolteacher.
- Mateo allegedly cashed 26 pension checks using false memos after the victim moved to a nursing home.
- The thefts began shortly after the passing of the woman’s husband in September 2022.
- Mateo faces multiple felony charges, including grand larceny and identity theft.
A Shocking Betrayal
Alfredo Mateo, a doorman well-known among residents at 380 Riverside Drive in Upper Manhattan, stands accused of exploiting his trusted position by orchestrating the theft of $477,685 from a retired teacher. Mateo allegedly stole 26 checks issued to the woman, who was under court-ordered guardianship at the time. The betrayal came to light as the victim’s monthly support disappeared, causing concern and prompting an investigation into the missing funds.
Investigators asserted that Mateo, who worked as a doorman for five years and enjoyed a favorable reputation with tenants, began embezzling shortly after the victim’s husband passed away. The accused reportedly deposited the first stolen check a day after the husband’s death and even managed to transfer $3,000 from her husband’s account, adding another damaging layer to his alleged misconduct.
https://twitter.com/nmeyersohn/status/1841637172333429190
More Than Just a Monetary Loss
The retired teacher’s loss extends beyond monetary value, hitting the core of her sense of security during her golden years. Mateo didn’t just stop at cashing checks; he allegedly impersonated the woman to manipulate direct deposit information and even accessed her annuity funds.
What kind of sicko does something like this? Especially someone so trusted by the neighborhood?
He formed a web of deceit, deepening the distress of the woman’s removal from her familiar environment after she moved to a nursing home.
“Those who take advantage of the access entrusted in them to target older community members and steal from hardworking New Yorkers will be held accountable,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized, highlighting the importance of protecting vulnerable community members. Bragg’s statement underscores the prosecution’s dedication to securing justice for the affected elderly, reminding us of the accountability expected from those in trust-centric roles.
Remember, though, that Bragg is a far-left radical who has overseen a crime spike in New York City, with criminals being freed, their sentences being slashed, and many dangerous people simply not even being arrested or charged. So we’ll see just how tough he really gets here.
