Caregiver indicted in theft

SOUTH RIVER - A borough woman who stands accused of taking more than $90,000 from an elderly man she was hired to care for was indicted last week by a Middlesex County grand jury.

Margarida De Jesus, 32, was indicted on one count each of theft by deception and attempted theft by deception, both second-degree charges. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for each charge and a $150,000 fine, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

The indictment alleges that between August 2004 and May 2005, De Jesus obtained funds by deception from an 83-year-old widower for whom she was employed as caregiver from 2003 until June 2005. The victim initially lived alone in New Brunswick, but he eventually moved into De Jesus' home in South River and later South Amboy. The victim now resides in a local nursing home.

The alleged theft was brought to the attention of the Prosecutor's Office by the attorney for the victim's son, who had become concerned about financial irregularities in one of his father's accounts. Investigators' subsequent review of the accounts revealed a series of large personal checks written to the suspect, aside from those paid to her as a caregiver, according to the Prosecutor's Office. In many cases, the checks had additional zeroes added to the original amounts.

Also, De Jesus is accused of attempting to obtain additional funds totaling more than $75,000 from the victim's MetLife IRA account. However, MetLife did not process the withdrawal and advised the victim's family of its suspicious nature, authorities said.

De Jesus, who was arrested on Sept. 21, is currently free on $125,000 bail. De Jesus is also known under the last names Martinspais, Jesus and Pais.

The matter was investigated by Gary Charydczak and Robert Torrisi of the Prosecutor's Office. Assistant Prosecutor Brian Gillet presented the matter to the grand jury.