|
WHITE PLAINS---A Connecticut woman who is a practicing attorney in White Plains faces charges of second degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing money from her cousin.
 Shelley Ann Rivera, 40, of 26 Pardee Place, East Haven, Conn., represented Annette Rivera, her cousin, between May 2005 and August 2006 in a number of real estate and financial matters. In May of 2005, the attorney received a check for approximately $480,000 from her cousin as the proceeds of the sale of a house in Riverdale, The Bronx.
In August of 2006, Shelly Rivera received an additional check in the amount of $522,248 which was a portion of the proceeds for the sale of another house in Warwick, Orange County, prosecutors said.
The defendant held these monies in trust for Annette Rivera to be used in a subsequent real estate transaction.
On Oct. 9, prosecutors said the attorney failed to provide her cousin with $860,000 needed by her to purchase a property in Riverdale.
Prosecutors said Shelley Rivera could not account for the disposition of that money and absconded to Las Vegas, Nevada. She was arrested there in late October, waived extradition and returned to Westchester County last week.
Rivera was remanded to the Westchester County Jail.
She faces a maximum of 15 years in state prison. 12-27-06
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed by anyone without the express written permission of the publisher. This article is copyright protected.
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
|
