Post date:
April 28 2015
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Charges Against Herkimer County Certified Nurse’s Aide Accused of Striking a Nursing Home Resident
A Second Defendant Is Charged With Falsifying Business Records And Violating Public Health Law For Allegedly Lying About Incident
UTICA – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest and arraignment of Renee Geloso, 24, of Ilion, who was arraigned on charges of Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the First Degree and Willful Violation of the Public Health Law before Ilion Town Justice Stephen Canipe in Ilion Village Court. It is alleged that while working as a Certified Nurse Aide at the Valley Health Services in Herkimer, Geloso struck a resident when she became frustrated with the resident.
“Caregivers are entrusted with an important responsibility to keep our loved ones healthy and safe,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Those who violate this trust by deliberately harming a nursing home resident must be held accountable.”
Following a report of the alleged incident, an investigation was initiated by the nursing facility. During the course of the investigation, a second defendant, Jordan Gonzalez, 24, of Ilion, stands accused of making a false statement to protect Geloso and of failing to promptly report an incident of patient abuse as required by law. Gonzalez was arraigned on charges of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree and Willful Violation of the Public Health Law.
The maximum penalty is one year in jail or three years of probation for Willful Violation of the Public Health Law. The maximum penalty for Endangering the Welfare of a Disabled Person in the First Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree is three years in prison or five years of probation.
The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case was investigated by Special Investigator Scott Petucci. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Paul R. Berry of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with support from Ralph D. Tortora, III, Regional Director, Syracuse Regional Office. Catherine Wagner is Chief of criminal Investigations-Upstate. William Falk is the Deputy Chief Investigator Upstate. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Acting MFCU Director Amy Held. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.