A woman has been convicted of swindling a 101-year-old tenant out of $350,000 in a Manhattan apartment building. Rosalind Hernandez, 57, faces charges including second-degree and third-degree larceny after deceiving Antonio Ruas, who entrusted her with power of attorney as his health deteriorated.
District Attorney Bragg remarked that she exploited Ruas’s advanced age and language barriers, as English isn’t his first language.
Ruas, a former diamond cutter from Brazil, shared in court that Hernandez began scheming after he sustained severe injuries from a fall in 2023. He had contemplated returning to Brazil to be with family when she reportedly thought he might not survive and could claim his assets instead.
He testified, saying, “She thought I was going to die there and she could keep everything.” Initially, Hernandez promised to sell his apartment and manage the $700,000 in his bank account, but he later found his balance reduced to nothing.
He also mentioned having given her as much as $100,000 in tips for assistance with his affairs. However, instead of managing his finances responsibly, prosecutors claimed Hernandez used his cards to purchase high-priced beauty products, clothing, and various subscriptions.
Interestingly, Hernandez had been seen as a supportive figure in the Chelsea Hall Co-op community, having formed a bond with Ruas after her partner passed away during the pandemic. According to an assistant district attorney, she often visited to chat and even included her children in outings with him. Yet, it seems that once trust was built, she exploited it.
“She was found guilty of taking advantage of a hard-working New Yorker in his age,” Bragg stated.
After a trial lasting four days, the jury took only a few hours to deliberate before reaching a verdict. Judge Daniel Convisor has allowed her bail, but Hernandez could face up to 15 years in prison when she is sentenced on March 11. Her attorney opted not to provide comments following the verdict.
