Home Health Aide Pleads Guilty To Stealing

Attorney General Spitzer today announced that a home health aide from Saratoga County has pleaded guilty to stealing the savings of two elderly woman under her care and defrauding the Social Security Administration.

The defendant, Faith Rock, 63, of Mechanicville, pleaded guilty in Albany County Court to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class "C" felony; two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class "D" felony, and Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person, a class "A" misdemeanor. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Teresi scheduled sentencing for June 18.

"The thefts of money from the elderly and disabled by private home care providers is indefensible," Spitzer said. "The successful prosecution in this case sends a message that the exploitation of the vulnerable will not be tolerated."

At her plea today, Rock admitted that she stole thousands of dollars from two elderly women in the Capital District while working as their private home health aide.

In 1996, Faith Rock began caring for Helen Wyzinsky of Clifton Park. Now deceased,
Ms. Wyzinsky suffered from Parkinson's disease and died in 2002. Rock began drafting, signing and cashing checks drawn on Ms. Wyzinsky's bank account in February 1998. Although Rock stopped working for her in 1999, she continued to steal from her until January of 2001. It is estimated that Rock stole more than $20,000 from Ms. Wyzinsky.

In January of 1999, Rock was hired to take care of Rosemary Wiechnik, of Troy, a 75 year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease. In February of 2000, Rock began to draft and sign checks from this elderly victim's bank account, just as she had from Wyzinsky. Rock also used Mrs. Wiechnik's credit card to purchase thousands of dollars worth of personal items and home furnishings from local businesses. In August of 2000, she also bought with Wiechnik's money, a recreational camper worth in excess of $10,000, which Rock kept at her Mechanicville residence. The investigation revealed that by July of 2001, Rock stole more than $67,000 from Mrs. Wiechnik.

Rock also admitted to the court that in June of 1999, while working as a health aide for Mrs. Wiechnik, she submitted a false disability compensation application to the Social Security Administration claiming that she suffered from a disabling cardiac condition. On the basis of this misrepresentation, over a 20-month period beginning in August 2000, Rock collected nearly $25,000 in fraudulent benefits.

Spitzer acknowledged the assistance and cooperation of the Social Security Administration during the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Gary Simpson of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. Investigator Leslie Arp led the investigation.