A captain at the city’s Section of Correction allegedly hatched a $40,000 scam by soliciting money from a lady and then faking the loss of life of their supposed financial investment partner.
Steve Francois, 43, of Queens, was arrested April 4 and billed with grand larceny for allegedly promising the female he could make her $15,000 on a $40,000 investment, officers mentioned.
Francois, who was out on sick leave at the time, fulfilled the target outdoors his Jamaica property on Sept. 3 and took a cashier’s test for $40,000. He promised her $55,000 in Oct, in accordance to the metropolis Division of Investigation.
On Dec. 21, Francois allegedly despatched the female a funeral announcement and illustrations or photos of a guy in a coffin — telling her that the person they had been doing enterprise with was lifeless and that her money would not be returned.
Investigators identified that Francois had deposited the $40,000 cashier’s check out into his account on Sept. 4 and that he later on withdrew a complete of $39,937.43 from the identical account, officials mentioned.
Francois has been utilized by the department due to the fact May perhaps 2013 and helps make a base wage of about $96,000, the DOI assertion reported.
He was charged with third-diploma grand larceny, a felony punishable by up to seven yrs in the slammer.
He was unveiled on his personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to courtroom on June 21.
“As alleged in the complaint, this defendant promised to profitably make investments the victim’s $40,000 but stole the funds as an alternative, enriching himself at the victim’s expenditure and breaking the law,” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber mentioned in a assertion.
“This defendant is a superior-rating member of DOC’s supervisory staff members whose integrity will have to be a top precedence. I thank the Queens District Attorney’s office and the City Division of Correction for their partnership on this investigation,” she additional.
Queens DA Melinda Katz claimed: “Financial crimes can be devastating for victims and could direct to economic spoil. I want to thank the City Department of Investigation and all these involved in bringing this circumstance to my Business office.”
DOC Commissioner Louis Molina mentioned that “integrity is the most important high-quality that a regulation enforcement official ought to have, and when they betray someone’s have faith in, they are unsuccessful that particular person and the agency they stand for.
“We will not tolerate this type of alleged disgraceful conduct and if this specific is identified guilty, they will be disciplined and facial area termination,” Molina additional in a statement.
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