A Chelsea building super once praised for looking after older tenants is now headed to state prison. Manhattan superintendent Rosalind Hernandez was sentenced Wednesday to one to three years in state prison after a jury convicted her of stealing more than $350,000 from a 100-year-old tenant who had granted her power of attorney, according to the Manhattan district attorney. Prosecutors said she used access to the man’s finances for personal spending and unauthorized checks, turning a supposed caretaking role into a personal bankroll.
Today we announced the sentencing of Rosalind Hernandez, a building superintendent, to 1-3 years in state prison for stealing from a 100-year-old man who lived in her building and granted her Power of Attorney. Learn more: https://t.co/QRB1Zx4bP8
— Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) April 15, 2026
DA Announces Sentence
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg highlighted the sentence in a post on X, linking to his office’s announcement about the case. Alvin Bragg said the punishment reflects his office’s focus on protecting vulnerable older New Yorkers, and the post included a link to further details from the DA’s office.
Convicted After Jury Trial
Hernandez was found guilty in January on two counts of grand larceny after a jury trial in Manhattan. Prosecutors said she persuaded the longtime resident to sign over power of attorney, then dipped into his accounts by using his checks and cards without permission. As reported when the jury returned the verdict, the panel delivered its decision in mid-January. Separate local trial coverage noted the conviction date and identified Assistant D.A. Raphaelle Monty as the prosecutor, according to GV Wire.
Prosecutors' Account Of The Theft
According to prosecutors, Hernandez first offered to help manage the man’s affairs while he was recovering from a fall, then used that access to quietly drain his money. She allegedly wrote large unauthorized checks, used his debit and credit cards for trips and clothing, and routed funds to others, ultimately taking more than $350,000, according to AP News. The theft came to light when the man returned to New York and found his savings depleted and his furniture missing, prosecutors said.
Legal Notes
Hernandez’s two grand larceny convictions carried a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, but the court imposed the lesser term of one to three years. The case was handled by the Manhattan DA’s elder abuse unit, which pursued it as an exploitation-of-the-elderly matter, according to GV Wire.
Why The Case Resonated
The case struck a nerve in Chelsea because Hernandez had been profiled in 2023 as an "unofficial companion and caregiver" to older residents in her building, a detail later noted in reporting about the indictment. That feel-good portrayal, contrasted with the trial evidence, underscored how quickly a trusted role can be turned against a vulnerable person, reporters observed. For background on the earlier profile and subsequent coverage, see AP News.
The DA’s post links to the office’s full announcement for more on the sentence and next steps in the case. The office said it will continue work on victim restoration and related remedies as the case moves through the court system.
