Charity chief blew Bronx shelter cash on shop trips
A NEW YORK charity boss who was given $10million to shelter homeless people in The Bronx has admitted stealing $2million of it to fund her luxury lifestyle.
Ethel Perry, 66, used Millennium Care ‘as her own personal piggy bank,’ a court heard. Items she bought included Tiffany & Co jewellery, Manolo Blahnik shoes and Ferragamo handbags.
As well as trips to upmarket department store Bergdorf Goodman she used the city’s money on cars, gym membership and other personal expenses – and to pay $1million credit card bills.
She also employed her brother and nephew at the non-profit firm – paying them ‘ far in excess of their reported salaries’, it was said.
Perry was given five years’ probation after signing a plea bargain deal with New York attorney general Letitia James.
She will be barred from non-profit service, and must repay $1,138,208 she owes in taxes, penalties, and interest.
Her company Millennium Care Inc will pay a fine of $2,394,169 – equivalent to the amount stolen – and be dissolved.
‘Stealing money earmarked for people experiencing homelessness is as immoral as it is illegal,’ Ms James said. ‘This individual broke the law by failing to pay taxes while taking money from a homeless shelter in order provide a luxurious lifestyle for herself and family members.’
Perry – who also ran charity dance school Millennium Dance Company – was always elegantly dressed on social media, wearing flowing scarves and holding a Chanel quilted handbag.
The agreement said the charity ‘carried out its business in a persistently illegal manner’ between 2013 and 2016.
It said the fraud was possible because the non-profit firm had no directors and failed to file financial reports with the state and the tax authorities.