A home health aide was arrested Thursday, charged with stealing over $12,000 from a client for whom she was providing care. Quanariel Stevenson, 25, faces charges of scheme to defraud, and theft from a person 65 years of age or older.
According to a police report, the victim, Frances Albergo, 91, of Naples, received a call from Bank of America that Stevenson had cashed several checks drawn on a credit union account throughout August. Albergo then looked in her checkbook, and confirmed that checks were missing.
"My trust was violated," Albergo said. "It's very difficult of course, because I am on a fixed income."
Albergo told police that she kept her checkbook in a closet, and that Stevenson knew its location, since the victim had asked her to retrieve it on several occasions. Albergo identified 25 checks, totaling $12,303, that had been taken, forged and cashed without her permission.
Detectives identified Stevenson from surveillance photos at the bank branch locations where she allegedly deposited the victim's forged checks.
Stevenson worked for Senior Matters as a home health aide. The owner of the company, Kathleen Carmody, told Fox 4 that she was "devastated" over the situation, and that she hopes justice is served. She said nothing in her background check on Stevenson would have led her to suspect any wrongdoing.
"The sense of betrayal is just enormous," Carmody said. "Not so much for me, but for my client."
Senior Matters is still providing home health aides to care for Albergo, who told Fox 4 she does not blame the company for the alleged thefts. She said that the banks have reimbursed her for the $12,303.
