Former Riverside billing clerk gets 5-10 years for embezzling more than $70G

Riverside Rest Home in Dover; inset, Jennifer Bryant (Courtesy)

EAST ROCHESTER - An East Rochester woman was sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to theft by unauthorized taking for her unauthorized control over social security funds that were the property of her grandmother and/or the administrator of Riverside Rest Home in Dover where she resided.
In a plea deal agreed to by Jennifer Bryant, 48, of Davis Boulevard, East Rochester, and the state Attorney Generals Office, her stand-committed sentence includes that three years of the minimum sentence are suspended for a period of 15 years from release on the condition of good behavior and compliance with the terms of the sentence.
The criminal complaint filed in February 2023 alleged that between May 7, 2019, and May 12, 2022, Bryant "obtained or exercised unauthorized control over social security funds, property of (victim) and/or Administrator of Riverside Rest Home, by depositing the funds into her (private bank account) and using the funds to make unauthorized expenditures."
Bryant had worked at Riverside as a billing coordinator for many years and was in that position when her grandmother moved there in December 2018, according to an affidavit written by an investigator at the Attorney Generals Office.
The affidavit indicated that Bryant had adjusted the grandmother's rest home bill to 0 and was diverting those funds into her own bank account, which between May 2019 and April 2022 amounted to some $74,000.
Purchases made using the account included $16,000 for retail purchases, $11,000 at salons, $10,000 in cash withdrawals, $10,000 at restaurants and $7,000 on alcohol, according to the affidavit..
During an interview with the investigator Bryant admitted she was "not truthful" by failing to deposit the funds in Riverside's accounts and she did "a lot wrong" by not paying the money to Riverside.
"I let my grandmother down, I let Riverside down. I let everyone down," she told the AG's investigator.
Bryant will also be ordered to pay $71,548.00 in restitution to Riverside Rest Home, which will be paid through the correctional facility or Department of Corrections as directed by the probation/parole officer.
Other conditions of the sentence include that Bryant participate in and complete any counseling, treatment, and educational programs as directed by the correctional authority or probation/parole officer and that she be assessed for drug and alcohol treatment needs.
She also agreed to not work in billing or accounting or in any job in which she would have access to financial accounts and/or confidential personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers and also shall not act as a fiduciary for any individual other than her spouse or children.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend II said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to anyone considering seeking to take advantage of a senior citizen.
"In this case, Ms. Bryant took advantage of an elderly, vulnerable nursing home resident," Townsend told The Rochester Voice on Wednesday. "The sentence imposed, to include a multi-year State Prison term, sends the important message that those who take advantage of older adults will be held accountable."