SOURCE: www.ag.ny.gov
Nursing Services Director Falsified Records To Cover-Up Disappearance Of Resident Who Is Still Missing
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today that the former Director of Nursing Services for a Queens nursing home was arrested for falsifying facility records to cover-up that a 74 year old resident, Alan Frazer, who suffers from dementia, was missing from the facility.
The defendant, Juliet Clifford, age 43, of 122 Pelhamdale Ave., Mount Vernon, NY, was arrested on one count of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree, one count of falsifying business records in the first degree, two counts of falsifying business records in the second degree, and one count of willful violation of the health laws. If Clifford is found guilty, the defendant faces up to four years in prison.
“I have no tolerance for individuals who neglect seniors in the care of a nursing home,” saidAttorney General Schneiderman. “Our most vulnerable citizens deserve high-quality care and peace of mind. Because this individual acted recklessly and unlawfully, someone who needs care is missing.”
According to the complaint filed in Queens County Criminal Court, while working at Bishop Charles Waldo Maclean Episcopal Nursing on May 26, 2013, Clifford failed to call 911 to report that a resident was missing from the facility. Clifford covered–up the fact that the resident was missing from the facility by stating to investigators that he left “against medical advice” (AMA). Investigatorsfrom Attorney General Schneiderman’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit responded to the facility on May 29, 2013, and requested that the defendant call 911 to report the resident missing. The defendant refused to call 911 because she stated that the resident left AMA. The resident was eventually reported missing by the facility on May 30, 2013.
The day after Mr. Frazer went missing, Clifford removed notes from the medical records of the resident, instructed a staff member to falsely state in the resident’s records that the resident left AMA and told staff members not to call NYPD.
Anyone having any information as to the whereabouts of Alan Frazer is encouraged to call 1-800-346-3543.
Clifford was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Justice Barry Kron, who released Clifford on her own recognizance. The defendant is scheduled to return to court on June 21, 2013.
Special Assistant Attorney General Betty Rodriguez is prosecuting this case under the supervision of Cassandra Bethel Chief of the Patient Protection Section, of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, under the supervision of Special Deputy Attorney General Monica Hickey-Martin, and Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan. The investigation was conducted by Special Investigators Rodolfo Lynch and Gen Sato, Senior Investigator James Serra and Supervising Special Investigators Mitchell Scher. NYPD Detective David Pulice is conducting the investigation into the missing person’s case.
The charges against Juliet Clifford are mere allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.