Westchester County Case Worker Admits Embezzling $500K From Dementia Patient

­­WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A Westchester County case worker who was supposed to be caring for and protecting a woman with dementia, instead embezzled more than a half-million dollars from the elderly victim.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday that Chantel Chenault, a caseworker with Westchester County Adult Protective Services (APS), pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the elderly woman under her care.

An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that from March 2017 to June 2022, Chenault manipulated the victim and used the victim's bank card to withdraw hundreds of thousands of dollars from her checking account. Chenault transferred over $500,000 from the elderly woman's retirement accounts to the woman's checking account and would bring the woman to the bank to make withdrawals multiple times per month.

Chenault also regularly used the woman's ATM card at casinos without permission, primarily Empire City Casino in Yonkers.

On June 26, Chenault pleaded guilty to felony second-degree grand larceny in a Westchester County courtroom.

"Elderly New Yorkers deserves trustworthy caretakers allowing them to live their later years in dignity and security," James said. "Chantel Chenault abused her position to steal a vulnerable woman's retirement savings, and my office is bringing her to justice. I will continue to go after anyone who tries to manipulate or steal from seniors in need."

As a Westchester County caseworker, Chenault's duties included accompanying her victim to the bank once a month. As the victim's physical and mental health declined, Chenault became responsible for arranging for home health aides from a third-party provider to care for the victim.

When Chenault went on medical leave in March 2022, the new caseworker at Adult Protective Services assigned to the case noticed there had been a substantial drop in the victim's assets in just a few months. A probe revealed that the woman's bank accounts and retirement accounts were entirely depleted, and as a result, she could no longer afford home health care. A forensic audit of her bank accounts identified a pattern of suspicious withdrawals and transfers, and the use of the victim's ATM card at times when she was homebound.

As a result of OAG's investigation, a guardian was appointed for the victim in April 2023. The guardian was then able to secure $881,062 in restitution for the victim from Westchester County. That recouped money was used for the victim's housing and medical needs.

As a result of her plea, Chenault faces a sentence of up to six months in jail.