Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. has ensured that Alexis De La Cruz, 31, will be spending 1-to-3 years behind bars for his role in the theft and forging of checks belonging to older adults. This sentencing, as reported by Manhattan District Attorney's Office, comes after De La Cruz's guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree.
"Alexis De La Cruz will serve prison time for stealing and forging checks from older adults," DA Bragg stated, conveying his hope to send a "message that we will prosecute those who steal hard-earned money from Manhattanites of any age." Bragg also advised New Yorkers to "use secure electronic payment methods, when possible, to protect themselves from check fraud." The case unfolded in October 2024, leading to a plea agreement in August of the following year.
According to court documents, De La Cruz was originally stopped for an unrelated traffic incident on October 17, 2024, when NYPD officers discovered a bench warrant for his arrest out of another county. A subsequent search of his vehicle and pockets revealed numerous stolen checks and credit and debit cards, including a "washed" check erased of its original writing belonging to an 89-year-old man and another stolen check issued to a consulting firm from a 78-year-old man.
These incidents of check theft raise serious concerns about the vulnerabilities older adults face in safeguarding their finances. Bragg's office, in working to address these crimes, has demonstrated a commitment to fiercely prosecute perpetrators who attempt to exploit the elderly. Assistant D.A. Benjamin Davidovich led the prosecution under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Rachel Polisner, David Hammer, Jeanine Launay, former Assistant D.A. Mireille Dee, and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo, with Investigative Analyst Genevieve Rupp providing additional assistance.
The work of the NYPD, particularly Officer Jordan Masiello of the 34th Precinct, was acknowledged by D.A. Bragg in closing this case.
