Home Health Aids Indicted For Scheme Against Client

Attorney General Spitzer today announced the indictment of two Rensselaer County home health aides for theft of more than $50,000 from an elderly, wheelchair-bound patient.

"Crimes that violate the trust of the vulnerable must be halted," said Spitzer. "My office is committed to reducing incidents of elder abuse by cracking down on physical and financial exploitation in the health care industry; investigating complaints emanating from hospitals and nursing homes; and working with local and state law-enforcement officials to prosecute cases."

A sealed indictment was opened today in Rensselaer County Court charging Tammy Baker and her son Gary R. Baker, both of Troy, with Grand Larceny in the second and third degrees.

The Bakers, serving as personal attendants, had access to the bank accounts and other financial instruments of an 87 year-old patient under their care. The scheme, which evolved over a period of two years, involved repeated withdrawl of funds from bank accounts and converting financial assets to cash.

In addition to these charges, Ms. Baker and a third defendant, her husband, Gary L. Baker were each charged with three counts of failure to file New York State Income Tax returns.

The indictment is being prosecuted by Spitzer’s Criminal Prosecutions Bureau in association with the New York State Police. The Attorney General’s Office received significant assistance in the early stages of this investigation from the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office.

Rensselaer County District Attorney Kenneth R. Bruno said, "This case illustrates the need to increase preventive efforts regarding the financial exploitation of our senior citizens. This type of crime is devastating and I will continue to do everything possible to eradicate it."

Assistant Attorneys General Richard Ernst and Nancy Snyder are prosecuting the indictment against the Bakers with the assistance of A.G. Investigator Frank Kovacks; and Gregg Schreffler and William Gonzalez of the New York State Police.

Cases of elder abuse can be reported by contacting Attorney General Spitzer’s Elder Abuse Hot Line at (800) 771-7755.

The charges of the indictment are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.