Health Aide Used Knife To Extort $19K From 78-Year-Old Man

PEARL RIVER, NY — A woman entrusted to help care for a senior citizen, instead abused and extorted the elderly man in her charge, according to prosecutors.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh, II announced on Friday that 60-year-old Delores Anderson, of the Bronx, was convicted after a one-week jury trial of five counts of felony second-degree grand larceny. Sentencing is scheduled for August 27.

Anderson worked as a home health care live-in aid to a 78-year-old man at a senior assisted living complex in Pearl River, from December 2022 through August 2023.

On May 5, 2023, in the victim's home, Anderson stole property by convincing the victim to write out personal checks payable to herself. The DA's Office says that Anderson held a kitchen knife in her hand and threatened the victim, "instilling fear in him, that if he did not comply and author these checks she would cause him a physical injury." At knifepoint, he wrote out two checks payable to Anderson in the amount $4082.00.

On July 25, 2023, Anderson held the same kitchen knife to the victim's stomach and demanded that he write three more additional checks payable to herself. Two checks were in the amount of $3603.00 and one for $3602.00.

Anderson deposited all five checks from the victim and withdrew a total of $18,972.00 from her account.

"We always stand ready to protect our seniors from those who prey on their vulnerabilities," Walsh said. "This defendant not only violated a position of trust in this theft but threatened this elderly victim with a knife in his own home. Our senior citizens can be assured that the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting them from violence and abuse and will vigorously prosecute any offenders. This conduct will not be tolerated in Rockland County."