Caregiver is charged in theft of $100,000
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER - Police have charged a borough woman with theft by deception after she allegedly stole nearly $100,000 from an elderly man who was in her care.

Margarida Jesus, 32, of Serviss Street, was arrested Sept. 20 and held on $125,000 bail with no 10 percent option at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick.

Authorities began investigating the matter when the alleged victim's son reported that funds were missing from several of his father's accounts, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. The son brought his suspicions to elder-law attorney Amy MacIsaac of the firm Andora & Romano, who brought it to the attention of the prosecutor.

Prosecutors said their investigation revealed that Jesus had stolen about 10 personal checks from the widower's accounts over a period of about nine months between 2004 and 2005.

"It would have been nice for him and his family to have these monies to pay for his care," MacIsaac said.

The victim, who is 83 and is said to have Alzheimer's disease, now resides in a nursing home. Jesus lived in the victim's home at the time of the alleged theft, receiving compensation of about $400 a week for taking care of him.

The missing funds had originally been set aside to pay for the man's care as he got older, MacIsaac said.

If found guilty, Jesus would face up to 10 years in prison, along with a $150,000 fine.

Assistant County Prosecutor Brian Gillet said the investigation is continuing, but declined to provide further details on the case.

It is unclear what Jesus used the allegedly stolen funds for, and whether she had any other clients.

The defendant has also gone under the names Margarida De Jesus, Margarida Martinspais and Margarida Pais, authorities said.

There is no indication that she had any prior record, Gillet said. She filed a motion to have her bail lowered, which will be heard Friday in a New Brunswick court.