An employee of the UJA-Federation of New York allegedly sold photocopies of checks from high-profile donors to gang members who used the identity details to steal more than $2 million.
Tracy Nelson, 24, of Brooklyn, was indicted Dec. 16 in the scam, as was the man she lived with, Roberto Millar, a car salesman. Nelson pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail.
Fifty-five people were arrested in the scam, most members of the Bloods, Crips and Outlaws gangs.
UJA-Federation told the New York Times that Nelson worked at the agency for three years and was suspended without pay in August.
Since last May, Nelson and her gang cashed money or transferred it to their bank accounts and reportedly bought electronics, expensive clothing and luxury cars.
UJA-Federation told the New York Times that its donors did not suffer financial injury, but that the burden was borne by banks and credit card companies including JPMorgan Chase, TD Bank, Citibank, American Express and Discover.
Major donors who were victims of the scam include Ira Rennert, estimated to be worth $5.9 billion; and Eric Zinterhofer, a founder of Searchlight Capital Partners and the husband of Aerin Lauder, an Estée Lauder executive. — jta