Hempstead Woman Charged with Stealing More than $83K from 100-Year-Old Cancer Patient

Chichester stole money from grandmother after being granted power-of-attorney

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Hempstead woman has been charged with grand larceny after stealing more than $83,000 from her 100-year-old grandmother as she recovered from stomach cancer surgery.

Mandy Beth Chichester, 30, of Hempstead was charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, and is due back in court tomorrow.

She was arrested yesterday afternoon by DA investigators at a homeless shelter for women in Queens.

Rice said that in January 2008, the victim, who raised Chichester from infancy and considered her a granddaughter, entered Mercy Medical Center for surgery related to stomach cancer. Chichester was granted power-of-attorney over the victim’s finances, and immediately began withdrawing money, including $500 for a down payment on a new BMW. When bank employees noticed that the victim’s bank account was being depleted and her bills were not being paid, they notified the victim and the power-of-attorney was rescinded.

Despite the revocation of the power-of-attorney, Chichester was still able to obtain and cash a $73,000 life insurance benefits check owed to the victim after the death of her daughter, as well as receive five Social Security checks in the victim’s name, resulting in a total theft of more than $83,000.

“Given the victim’s age, health, and relationship with the defendant, this crime is all the more reprehensible,” Rice said. “Ms. Chichester will now face the consequences of her actions.”

Handling the case for the District Attorney's Office is Assistant District Attorney Victoria Curran of the Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau. The defendant is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.