Group Home Staffers Accused Of Stealing $47K+ From Disabled Residents' Bank Accounts: Westchester DA

TARRYTOWN, NY — A betrayal of trust left vulnerable adults victimized in Westchester County, according to investigators.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace and NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced on Tuesday that two group home employees have been charged in connection with a scheme to make personal purchases using the banking information of disabled group home residents.

The victims of the scheme are adults with varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability, according to prosecutors.

Nadajah Jackson, 28, of Yonkers, was charged with felony third-degree grand larceny; felony fourth-degree grand larceny; felony first-degree scheme to defraud; and two misdemeanor counts of petit larceny.

Jackson was arraigned on the charges Tuesday afternoon in Tarrytown Justice Court. She was released on her own recognizance, and is due back in court on July 1.

Destiny Galan, 25, of Staten Island, was charged with felony fourth-degree grand larceny; felony first-degree scheme to defraud; and misdemeanor petit larceny. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Tarrytown Justice Court on July 1.

"I am outraged that two individuals entrusted with caring for our most vulnerable residents instead allegedly bilked them of tens of thousands of dollars," Cacace said. "My office will not sit idle as our neighbors with disabilities have their pockets picked. I am thankful that our strong collaboration with Comptroller DiNapoli and the Tarrytown police has brought these two defendants to justice, and we will seek to ensure that all the victims from this alleged scheme are made whole."

According to a felony complaint, Jackson, an employee of the Association For Mentally Ill Children of Westchester, made $45,448.47 in purchases from Amazon and other merchants, between November 2022 and January 2025, by debiting the bank accounts of four residents.

In another felony complaint, Galan, also an Association For Mentally Ill Children of Westchester employee, purchased $2,038.03 in women's clothing and food from Amazon, between May 2024 and August 2024, by debiting the bank accounts of two residents.

"The defendants' alleged actions are simply outrageous and heartless. Nadajah Jackson and Destiny Galan allegedly exploited vulnerable individuals entrusted to their care to line their own pockets," Comptroller DiNapoli said. "Now, thanks to my partnership with Westchester D.A. Cacace, we will ensure that justice is served and they are held accountable for their cruel actions."

The case was investigated by the Office of the NYS Comptroller, the Tarrytown Police Department, and the Investigators Squad within the Westchester County DA's Office, with assistance from the Economic Crimes Bureau.

The case is being prosecuted by Complex and Pattern Crimes Deputy Bureau Chief Courtney Johnson.