FORMER FINANCE DIRECTOR INDICTED FOR STEALING MORE THAN $310,000 FROM THE GIRL SCOUT COUNCIL OF GREATER NEW YORK
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the indictment of YAASMIN HOOEY, 35, for stealing $311,586 from the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, Inc. (“GSCGNY”). The defendant was charged with of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Forgery in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third and Fifth Degrees.1
“Nonprofits are not personal cookie jars,” said District Attorney Vance. “But that is how the defendant is charged with treating the accounts of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. The defendant’s charged crimes not only violated the trust of the Girl Scout organization, but the trust of the girls that the organization serves. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes against nonprofit organizations.”
According to documents filed in court, HOOEY worked for GSCGNY, based in Manhattan, for more than two years, first as the temporary Director of Finance, before being permanently hired for that position. Among other things, HOOEY was responsible for managing the organization’s bank accounts, recording all checks written out of each account, reconciling checking account journals, and inputting all account activity into GSCGNY’s accounting system. The defendant also oversaw payroll operations, setting up wire transfers for payments, printing checks for the CEO to sign, creating financial reports, and preparing the organization’s financial records for yearly audit by an outside company.
Between September 2008 and December 2010, HOOEY is charged with stealing $311,568 from GSCGNY. She wrote 65 checks to herself out of GSCGNY’s payroll account, totaling $275,979, either cashing the checks or depositing them into her personal checking account. All of the checks were handwritten and bore the forged signature of GSCGNY’s then-CEO. HOOEY is also charged with issuing nine unauthorized wire transfers, totaling $35,606, from two GSCGNY bank accounts into her own personal checking account.
According to court documents, HOOEY used the funds from her bank account to pay for everyday expenses such as groceries, Metro-North Railroad tickets, a gym membership, and clothing, Hooey paid for cosmetic laser procedures, cruises, travel, concert tickets, and spent more than $18,000 in restaurants and bars. Hooey also purchased a $13,000 diamond ring.
HOOEY is also charged with failing to file her New York State personal income tax returns for 2008 and 2009. Although she filed her New York State personal income tax return for 2010, HOOEY is accused of intentionally failing to include the $142,077 she stole in 2010.
Assistant District Attorney Lauren Littman is prosecuting this case, under the supervision of Special Prosecutions Bureau Chief Thomas Wornom and Deputy Bureau Chiefs Judy Salwen and Archana Rao. Financial Investigator Wei Man Tang of the District Attorney’s Financial Crimes Bureau assisted in the investigation. Investigators Keith Christensen, David Lee, and Karen Kelly of the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau assisted in the arrest of the defendant, under the supervision of Chief Investigator John Bilich.
District Attorney Vance also thanked Forensic Tax Auditor 2 Festus Anaemeje of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, under the supervision of Forensic Auditor 3 Nicholas Capkovic, for their assistance.
Defendant information:
YAASMIN HOOEY, D.O.B. 9/05/1976
New York, NY
Charges:
Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts
Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts
Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts
Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts
Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts
Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count
1 The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“Nonprofits are not personal cookie jars,” said District Attorney Vance. “But that is how the defendant is charged with treating the accounts of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. The defendant’s charged crimes not only violated the trust of the Girl Scout organization, but the trust of the girls that the organization serves. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes against nonprofit organizations.”
According to documents filed in court, HOOEY worked for GSCGNY, based in Manhattan, for more than two years, first as the temporary Director of Finance, before being permanently hired for that position. Among other things, HOOEY was responsible for managing the organization’s bank accounts, recording all checks written out of each account, reconciling checking account journals, and inputting all account activity into GSCGNY’s accounting system. The defendant also oversaw payroll operations, setting up wire transfers for payments, printing checks for the CEO to sign, creating financial reports, and preparing the organization’s financial records for yearly audit by an outside company.
Between September 2008 and December 2010, HOOEY is charged with stealing $311,568 from GSCGNY. She wrote 65 checks to herself out of GSCGNY’s payroll account, totaling $275,979, either cashing the checks or depositing them into her personal checking account. All of the checks were handwritten and bore the forged signature of GSCGNY’s then-CEO. HOOEY is also charged with issuing nine unauthorized wire transfers, totaling $35,606, from two GSCGNY bank accounts into her own personal checking account.
According to court documents, HOOEY used the funds from her bank account to pay for everyday expenses such as groceries, Metro-North Railroad tickets, a gym membership, and clothing, Hooey paid for cosmetic laser procedures, cruises, travel, concert tickets, and spent more than $18,000 in restaurants and bars. Hooey also purchased a $13,000 diamond ring.
HOOEY is also charged with failing to file her New York State personal income tax returns for 2008 and 2009. Although she filed her New York State personal income tax return for 2010, HOOEY is accused of intentionally failing to include the $142,077 she stole in 2010.
Assistant District Attorney Lauren Littman is prosecuting this case, under the supervision of Special Prosecutions Bureau Chief Thomas Wornom and Deputy Bureau Chiefs Judy Salwen and Archana Rao. Financial Investigator Wei Man Tang of the District Attorney’s Financial Crimes Bureau assisted in the investigation. Investigators Keith Christensen, David Lee, and Karen Kelly of the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau assisted in the arrest of the defendant, under the supervision of Chief Investigator John Bilich.
District Attorney Vance also thanked Forensic Tax Auditor 2 Festus Anaemeje of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, under the supervision of Forensic Auditor 3 Nicholas Capkovic, for their assistance.
Defendant information:
YAASMIN HOOEY, D.O.B. 9/05/1976
New York, NY
Charges:
Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts
Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts
Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts
Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts
Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts
Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count
1 The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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