LI Woman Indicted On Stealing Patients' Trust Funds: Prosecutors

MINEOLA, NY — A Hempstead woman faces dozens of counts in connection after prosecutors said she stole more than $500,000 from trust funds that benefit people with special needs.

Michelle Byrd, 53, appeared in court Wednesday on charges of grand larceny and 180 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, Anne Donnelly, the Nassau County district attorey, announced.

"The victims of this alleged scheme included adults with Cerebral Palsy, stroke victims, and a woman who had lost her arms and legs due to medical malpractice. One victim was forced to sell his home because of the more than $180,000 that was spent down in his account," Donnelly said in a statement. "This alleged conduct violated the trust that these clients placed in their case manager to safeguard their finances and ensure they would continue to receive the necessary care to live their lives."

Byrd pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court April 4. If convicted of the top charge, Byrd faces up to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said.

Byrd worked for a Nassau County-based law firm that manages trusts for special needs clients. She served as a case manager, who was in frequent contact with trust beneficiaries regarding their financial needs.

According to Donnelly's investigation, from 2014 to 2021, Byrd wrote hundreds of checks to herself from seven trust accounts without permission or authority to do so, resulting in losses of about $526,000.

Byrd also forged the signature of the trustee on checks and forged bank statements to conceal the theft, Donnelly said.

Byrd surrendered to Nassau County District Attorney Detective Investigators on Wednesday.