$250K Embezzled From School For Special Needs Students By Queens Woman: DA

MOUNT PLEASANT, NY — A complicated scheme to defraud a school for special needs children of public funds, and to instead use that money for luxury items, has led to felony charges against a Queens woman, according to prosecutors.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a Queens woman was arrested Thursday morning on felony charges after being accused of stealing over $220,000 in funds intended for the Mount Pleasant Cottage School Union Free School District, which serves students with educational, behavioral and emotional challenges.

"It is unconscionable that anyone would prey upon a public school district, especially one serving our most vulnerable students," Cacace said. "My office will not hesitate to act where the welfare of our children is at stake. We will work to ensure that the school districts victimized by this alleged scheme are made whole."

Nataly Ramos Allende, 26, was arraigned Thursday in the Mount Pleasant Justice Court on two counts of second-degree grand larceny, and two counts of third-degree grand larceny.

According to the felony complaint, on Nov. 6, Ramos Allende incorporated a limited liability company in New Jersey entitled "Mt Pleasant Cottage School LLC," and opened a Citibank account in the LLC’s name shortly thereafter. On Nov. 15, she deposited a $107,402.40 check issued by the Southern Westchester BOCES to the "Mt Pleasant Cottage School," into the Citibank account, according to investigators.

By law, public school districts are required, in some circumstances, to pay for their disabled students' out-of-district educational expenses.

On Nov. 25, Ramos Allende opened another bank account in the LLC's name at Chase Bank, according to the complaint. Investigators say she deposited two checks issued to the Mount Pleasant Cottage School into this account: one, worth $96,103.43, issued by the County of Onondaga, and another, worth $7,438.26, issued by the Carmel Central School District.

On Dec. 5, Ramos Allende is accused of again opening a bank account at the Bank of America in the LLC's name. Into this account, she deposited a $19,114.05 check issued by the County of Onondaga to the Mount Pleasant Cottage School.

After depositing the checks, Ramos Allende made cash withdrawals, buying a Chanel purse at one point, according to the felony complaint.

The investigation was conducted by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

The judge released Ramos Allende on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on Oct. 2.