D.A. Bragg: Senior Living Residence Employee Indicted For Stealing More Than $400,000 From Residence & Elderly New Yorkers

Defendant Allegedly Stole More Than $200,000 from 92-Year-Old

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of DEVON RAGNAUTH, 38, for stealing hundreds of checks from a senior living residence on the Upper West Side, where he was employed in the company's business office. RAGNAUTH allegedly stole more than $400,000 from twenty-one residents and the residence itself, and is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree; three counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree and six counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, among other charges. [1]

"The defendant callously exploited his position in a senior living community to allegedly steal from nearly two dozen elderly New Yorkers," said District Attorney Bragg. "One of the alleged victims was 92-years of age. Financial loss for older individuals can be absolutely devastating, and we will continue to use every tool available to address and prevent these types of pernicious schemes."

According to court documents and statements made on the record, RAGNAUTH allegedly stole checks for more than four years between January 2021 and July 2025. As an employee of the senior living residence's business office, he frequently handled checks written to and from residents.

Between July 2024 and July 2025, RAGNAUTH allegedly stole 143 checks worth over $240,000 from a 92-year-old resident suffering from cognitive decline. Checks were made out from the resident's bank account to a legitimate third-party homecare agency even though the resident did not receive services from that company. These checks were then deposited into RAGNAUTH's personal bank account. RAGNAUTH also allegedly deposited a $12,000 check made out to the same resident into the defendant's own personal bank account.

Between May 2021 and July 2025, RAGNAUTH allegedly stole 139 checks worth more than $148,000 from the senior living residence. Many of these checks were refunds meant for residents who no longer lived in the community and were owed money. RAGNAUTH allegedly intercepted these checks and deposited them into his personal bank account. Some of these checks were also deposited into a bank account belonging to one of RAGNAUTH's family members.

In addition, RAGNAUTH also added the same family member as an entertainer for the senior living community and allegedly provided false invoices to the community, leading it to write 17 checks totaling $11,000, which RAGNAUTH then deposited the money into his own personal bank account.

Between January 2021 and December 2024, RAGNAUTH allegedly stole approximately 60 checks from seventeen other residents, which he deposited into his own bank account and that of a family member.

In the fall of 2022, a resident's family member complained that a check had gone missing and appeared to have been deposited into RAGNAUTH's bank account. RAGNAUTH allegedly provided falsified bank statements and deposit slips to the senior living residence to hide the fact he had stolen the check.

RAGNAUTH also allegedly used the credit cards of six residents to make over $30,000 of personal purchases including luxury clothing and vacations.

Assistant D.A. Raphaelle Monty (Deputy Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Jeanine Launay (Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit) and Shannon Lucey (Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Division), and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division).

D.A. Bragg thanked Elder Abuse Investigative Analyst Zoe Wittenwyler, Lieutenant Daniel Clark-El, Investigator Briggitte Lawell, Deputy Chief Investigator Gregory Dunlavey, Chief Investigator Jonathan Reid, and other members of the Investigation Bureau, as well as Director Steven Moran and other members of the High Tech Analysis Unit, and Assistant D.A. David Crowley in the Appeals Division for their valuable assistance.

Defendant Information:
DEVON RAGNAUTH
Bronx, NY

Charged:

• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts
• Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a Class E felony, one count
• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, two counts
• Identity Theft in the First Degree, A class D felony, three counts
• Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, three counts
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, six counts
  Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a Class E felony, one count
• Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, two counts
• Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, one count
• Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.