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Two men were indicted in federal court in Brookyln, N.Y., on charges that they allegedly embezzling more than $1.3 million from a nonprofit that provided home care services and operated homeless shelters in New York City.
An indictment was unsealed charging Jean Ronald Tirelus, 50, and Roberto Samedy, 50, in Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Tirelus was the former chairman of the board of directors of BHRAGS Home Care, and Samedy was the executive director of the organization.
The indictment charged Tirelus, Samedy, and two others — Edouardo St. Fort, 47, and Miguel Jorge, 52, — for their alleged roles in a related scheme in which Tirelus and Samedy steered business to companies controlled by St. Fort and Jorge in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Tirelus and Samedy were each charged with wire fraud, embezzlement, and bribery-related offenses, and conspiracy to commit the same, as well as money laundering conspiracy.
St. Fort, a former New York Police Department sergeant, and Jorge were charged with federal program bribery and related charges. If convicted, Tirelus and Samedy each face up to 20 years in prison, and St. Fort and Jorge face each face up to 10 years in prison.
“As alleged, the defendants used their leadership positions to loot public funds from an organization devoted to serving vulnerable New Yorkers,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., said via a statement.
“Two of the defendants were leaders at the nonprofit who capitalized on the city’s urgent need for homeless shelter providers by allegedly steering business to favored vendors in exchange for bribes and kickbacks, according to the indictment. Those who exploit the city’s need for homeless shelters endanger the very programs meant to help unhoused people.”
“As alleged, the defendants used their leadership positions to loot public funds from an organization devoted to serving vulnerable New Yorkers,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., said via a statement.
“Two of the defendants were leaders at the nonprofit who capitalized on the city’s urgent need for homeless shelter providers by allegedly steering business to favored vendors in exchange for bribes and kickbacks, according to the indictment. Those who exploit the city’s need for homeless shelters endanger the very programs meant to help unhoused people.”
