Former employee at Kings County public administrator’s office indicted for stealing $78,000 from 8 dead people

October 31, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Prosecutors with the office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez are asking that the judge allow a special prosecutor to take over in the case against two ex-cops accused of raping a teenage girl. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

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A former employee of the Kings County Public Administrator’s office was indicted on Wednesday for allegedly stealing over $78,000 from the estates of eight dead individuals whose estates he was administering.

The Kings County Public Administrator is appointed by the Surrogate’s Court to administer the estates of Brooklynites who die without a last will and testament, or family members who are able to administer the estate.

In this case, Fitzroy Thompson, a 36-year-old from Park Slope, was indicted in front of Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun and was charged with grand larceny, corrupting the government, scheme to defraud and identity theft.

“This defendant abused his position and betrayed the public trust by allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars that he then used for his personal expenses,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “A thorough investigation uncovered the extent of his alleged theft and we will now seek to hold him accountable.”

Between July 2017 and April 2018, Thompson allegedly stole $78,325 in funds from various estates that were being administered, according to the Brooklyn DA’s Office. According to their investigation, he used credit cards and checking accounts belonging to the estates of eight people to make purchases or payments.

Thompson allegedly booked a cruise worth $2,741 in January 2018 using a credit card, made ATM withdrawals that exceeded $35,000 to purchase a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder and a 2016 Nissan Altima, made rent payments on two different properties, and also purchased phones, paid bills and bought JetBlue airline tickets to Nassau, Bahamas, according to the Brooklyn DA’s Office.

It wasn’t until a relative of one of the deceased noticed the cruise payment and filed a police report that Thompson was arrested in March 2018, the DA’s Office said. He resigned from the Public Administrator’s office in July.

Thompson faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 9.