A bookkeeper at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice has been accused of stealing more than $700,000 intended for students, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday. Cadelie Neat, 60, an accounts-payable manager at the Manhattan public institution, allegedly issued over 260 fraudulent checks to herself, disguising them as payments to current, former, and even fictitious students in the college's "APPLE Corps" program.
From December 2018 to April of the current year, Neat is accused of diverting a total of $710,000 from the program, which provides stipends to individuals pursuing careers in law enforcement. Court documents state that students in this program typically receive a $15,000 stipend over four years.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office reported that most of the illicit checks were mailed to Neat's home in Suffolk County, Long Island. She then allegedly deposited them into her personal bank accounts via ATMs in Manhattan. The funds were reportedly used for personal expenses including travel, dining, and home repairs.
Neat pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of grand larceny and identity theft. She was released as her charges are not eligible for bail and faces a potential maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted.
In a related case, Andrea Williams, 47, a former accountant at the Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy Charter School, and Cheryl Carr, 73, were also charged. Authorities allege they incorporated a fictitious charter school in Idaho with a name similar to the Harlem school and illegally diverted approximately $288,000 in school funds into their own accounts. Both Williams and Carr were also released without bail.
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office, whose investigation prompted the Manhattan DA's office to look into these alleged schemes, stated that the defendants engaged in elaborate plots to divert taxpayer money from worthwhile programs. Lawyers representing Neat, Williams, and Carr did not immediately respond to requests for comment.