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COURIER L 32 IFE, JUNE 28–JULY 4, 2019 M BR B G
Parks employee cuffed
Investigators accuse Prospect Heights woman
of stealing more than $30,000 from clients
Nicole Gamorny is accused of steering 54 client payments — totalling $30,911 — meant as deposits
to reserve the Oak Ridge building (pictured) in Forest Park for 36 events into private
banks accounts under her control. Courtesy of the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society
BY AIDAN GRAHAM
Police were searching for a suspect
who they say left a noose outside of a
Crown Heights church on June 22, according
to authorities.
The hangman’s knot was discovered
in some bushes surrounding United
House of Prayer for All Church, located
at 1323 Park Place between Schenectady
and Utica avenues, Saturday morning,
and police arrived at around 9 a.m. to remove
the length of rope, cops said.
No arrests have been made, and
the investigation by the Police Department’s
Hate Crimes Task Force remains
ongoing, according to authorities.
The incident at the non-denominational
church follows Mayor Bill de Blasio
creation of the Offi ce of the Prevention
of Hate Crimes earlier this month
to combat rising hate crimes stats
throughout the city.
“In New York City, we celebrate and
uphold our differences and reject any attempt
to hate or divide,” de Blasio said
at the time. “We will never stand idly
by while our fellow New Yorkers are
targeted because of their race, religion,
sexual orientation or any other quality
that makes them who they are.”
BY AIDAN GRAHAM
A Prospect Heights woman is facing
seven years behind bars for allegedly
stealing more than $30,000 from the
Department of Parks and Recreation,
where she has worked since 2005.
Police arrested 44-year-old Nicole
Gamory, accusing her of using her status
as a community associate in the department
to steal funds from clients reserving
event space at a Queens park,
according to Department of Investigation
Commissioner Margaret Garnett.
Between February 2014 and June
2018, Gamorny steered 54 client payments
— totalling $30,911 — meant
as deposits to reserve the Oak Ridge
building in Forest Park for 36 events
into private banks accounts under her
control, according to investigators.
Investigators were tipped off
to the scheme by the Forest Park
Trust — a nonprofit organization
that manages programs in the park,
according to authorities.
Subsequent investigation showed
that Gamory deposited the misappropriated
funds — which should
have been earmarked for Forest
Park Trust’s bank — into her personal
accounts, including $1,450 for
a Sweet Sixteen in 2015, and $1,936
for a wedding in 2016.
Gamory, who receives an annual
salary of $59,363, was suspended from
the Parks Department immediately
following her arrest.
Prosecutors slapped the suspended
parks guru with 17 charges, including
grand larceny and falsifying business
records.
Acting Queens District Attorney
John Ryan, who is tasked with prosecuting
the case, blasted Gamory’s actions
as reprehensible.
“Our community parks are there
for everyone to enjoy for everyday recreation
as well as special occasions,”
Ryan said. “This employee allegedly
decided to funnel deposits to her own
bank accounts. This kind of conduct is
unacceptable.”
Police recover noose found
outside Crown Heights church
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