NYC Local News: D.A. Alvin Bragg Announces Guilty Plea of Final Ringleader in Massive NYC City Employee Fraud Case
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announces guilty plea of final ringleader in NYC city employee PUA fraud, ghost gun, and burglary investigation.
Manhattan Voice
December 20, 2025
The case, which spans four indictments and 18 defendants, marks the conclusion of one of the most complex fraud investigations handled by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in recent years. At its center was a scheme that exploited the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, a critical lifeline created to help New Yorkers during the height of COVID-19.
Guilty Plea Brings Major Case to a Close
Baker, 37, pleaded guilty across two indictments to multiple felony charges, including Grand Larceny in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, Official Misconduct, and Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree. Prosecutors identified her as a ringleader who abused her position as a Department of Homeless Services (DHS) employee to steal public funds meant for vulnerable and unhoused individuals.
Under the terms of her plea, Baker is expected to be sentenced to 2⅓ to 7 years in state prison on February 6, 2026.
“This defendant diverted funds from a vital pandemic-era program meant to support people during a period of widespread fear and economic uncertainty,” District Attorney Bragg said, emphasizing the breach of public trust involved in the case.
Pandemic Unemployment Fraud by City Employees
According to court documents and statements made on the record, Baker and her co-conspirators orchestrated a large-scale PUA fraud scheme between April 2020 and October 2021. Using stolen personal identifying information—often taken from homeless individuals—they filed fraudulent unemployment claims with the New York State Department of Labor without the victims’ knowledge.
Once claims were approved, prepaid bank cards were mailed to addresses controlled by the defendants, including their own homes. Prosecutors say Baker and other DHS employees leveraged their access to sensitive information to fuel the scheme.
In total, the defendants submitted 170 fraudulent PUA applications, netting approximately $1.2 million in stolen benefits.
Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Stolen Benefits
Evidence presented by prosecutors showed that the stolen unemployment funds were used to support lavish personal lifestyles. Baker openly discussed using the money for travel and, during the fraud period, took international trips to Mexico and Tanzania.
The spending ultimately helped investigators connect financial records to the broader conspiracy.
Co-Ringleader Already Serving Prison Time
Baker’s co-ringleader, Cliffie Thompson, was sentenced on October 20, 2025, to 4 to 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges. Those included operating ghost gun conspiracies and defrauding the PUA program alongside Baker and other associates.
Thompson had already been sentenced to five years in prison in January 2024 after investigators discovered a ghost gun factory in his East Village apartment—the original case that ultimately unraveled the broader criminal network.
How the Investigation Uncovered Even More Crimes
The investigation began in 2022 with the discovery of illegal firearms. As prosecutors followed the evidence, they uncovered additional ghost gun conspiracies, which then led to the discovery of the PUA fraud involving city employees.
That fraud investigation later revealed an even more unusual crime: a residential burglary directed by Baker herself.
Burglary Fueled by Dispute Over Fraud Proceeds
Court records show that in November 2020, Baker believed Thompson was withholding thousands of dollars from the group’s fraud proceeds and keeping the money in a safe inside his apartment. Text messages admitted in court show Baker directing associates Sameera Roberts and Mushi White to break into Thompson’s apartment.
The burglary took place on November 23, 2020.
Both Roberts and White previously pleaded guilty to Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree. White was sentenced to two years in state prison, while Roberts received five years of probation.
Status of Other Defendants
Of the remaining defendants connected to the PUA fraud indictment:
- 15 associates have already pleaded guilty
- Three are awaiting sentencing
- One case remains open and pending
A Warning About Abuse of Public Trust
District Attorney Bragg emphasized that the case sends a clear message about accountability for public employees who exploit their positions for personal gain.
“Charde Baker abused her position as a city shelter employee to orchestrate a scheme that defrauded funds intended for vulnerable New Yorkers,” Bragg said. “This conviction ensures she will be held accountable.”
With Baker’s guilty plea, prosecutors have now secured convictions against every major player in the investigation—bringing a definitive close to a case that exposed how pandemic relief programs can be exploited when safeguards are abused.
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