An indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court on Mar. 31 charging Jean Ronald Tirelus and Roberto Samedy with embezzling over $1.3 million from a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that provided home care services and operated homeless shelters in New York City. The indictment also charges Tirelus, Samedy, Edouardo St. Fort, and Miguel Jorge with participating in a scheme to steer business to companies controlled by St. Fort and Jorge in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.
The case is significant as it involves alleged misuse of public funds intended for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and homeless individuals. Prosecutors say the defendants abused their leadership positions at an organization that received millions of dollars in Medicaid payments and city funding.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., Acting DOI Commissioner Christpher Ryan, and FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced the arrests and indictment. "As alleged, the defendants used their leadership positions to loot public funds from an organization devoted to serving vulnerable New Yorkers," said Nocella. "Rooting out corruption is a priority for our Office, and we will hold accountable anyone who exploits charitable trust for private gain." Ryan said: "Those who exploit the City’s need for homeless shelters endanger the very programs meant to help unhoused people." Barnacle added: "Jean Tirelus and Roberto Samedy allegedly stole more than $1.3 million from their nonprofit through fabricated investment opportunities... The FBI is committed to protecting charitable organizations and public funds from illicit corruption and greed."
According to court filings, between August 2020 and January 2024 Tirelus (former board chairman) and Samedy (executive director) allegedly exercised control over operations at two affiliated nonprofits—Nonprofit #1 and Nonprofit #2—under what is referred to as the Public Interest Organization. In one instance cited by prosecutors, they induced an $800,000 payment based on false claims about a joint venture with a bank; these funds were diverted into accounts controlled by Tirelus.
Separately, St. Fort (Taunton, Massachusetts) and Jorge (College Point, New York) are accused of controlling vendor companies that received millions of dollars through contracts steered by Tirelus and Samedy in return for bribes between February 2023 and January 2024.
If convicted on all counts—including wire fraud, embezzlement conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy (for Tirelus/Samedy), federal program bribery (for St. Fort/Jorge)—Tirelus or Samedy each face up to 20 years’ imprisonment; St. Fort or Jorge face up to 10 years each.
The U.S Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York handles federal crime prosecutions across Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County,and Suffolk County according to its official website. It maintains offices in Brooklyn and Central Islip and supports community outreach efforts according to its official website. Breon Peace leads this office as United States Attorney as noted on its official website.
