Ex-NYC Children's Official Pleads Guilty To Stealing From Children

NEW YORK CITY, NY — A former New York City Administration for Children's Services Executive Director pleaded guilty to stealing from children, the Manhattan District Attorney announced Tuesday.

The woman, Courtney Ramirez, 51, from Amsterdam, New York, admitted to stealing 14 gift cards valued at a total of $4,900, all intended for children who participated in ACS's Close to Home and Leadership Incentive Training programs, according to officials.

Under the terms of her plea, Ramirez will pay $4,900 in restitution to ACS and waive her right to appeal, officials said. If she pays the full restitution, she will be sentenced to a conditional discharge.

Ramirez worked as an ACS Executive Director from 2019 to 2020 and oversaw the ACS Close to Home program, which places children who have been ordered by Family Court to live outside of their home in communities close to their own, according to officials.

She also oversaw the Leadership Incentive Training Program, for which children in foster care and ACS juvenile justice programs receive a $350 Visa gift card for completing the program. Ramirez was responsible for distributing the gift cards.

To cover her crimes, Ramirez submitted false paperwork to make it appear as though the children had received the cards, even though they did not receive them, according to officials.

"Courtney Ramirez abused her taxpayer-funded role at ACS to steal gift cards intended to reward children who completed a leadership program," District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg said Tuesday. "She took advantage of her leadership position at an agency that seeks to help children facing immense challenges and used their gifts for herself."

Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said that Ramirez's crime was uncovered after another ACS employee reported to DOI that a young person who purportedly signed for a gift card never received any money.

"I thank the ACS employee who prompted this investigation by reporting potential misconduct to DOI and I thank our law enforcement partner the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its commitment to holding accountable those city employees who abuse their positions, acting in their own interests rather than serving the public," Strauber added.