A Bronx woman running an unlicensed day care center faces criminal charges for using another woman’s name.
City Department of Investigation officials said Desiree Carpio, 33, falsely identified herself as Karina Lopez, after losing her day care license in December 2009.
That was after two children suffered injuries, including a broken leg, when she left them in the care of her boyfriend.
As a result of the children’s injuries, Carpio’s boyfriend was sent to prison for felony assault.
The fraudulent day care program was shut down last month.
The new investigation began in August, after a city marshal notified DOI that she had been asked to schedule a court-ordered eviction of Carpio at an apartment on West 175th Street in Morris Heights that housed a children’s day care program, said DOI Commissioner Rose Hearn.
City marshals notify DOI and take precautions before conducting any eviction involving a children’s day care program.
When DOI advised the city health department of the prospective eviction, it noted that Carpio was not the licensed day care operator at the apartment, and that Carpio’s previous license, at a different address, had been revoked three years earlier.
When a health department employee contacted the day care operator, who identified herself as “Karina Lopez,” she told the city worker that Carpio no longer resided in the apartment. “Lopez” also said that she would go to court to stop the eviction.
After further investigation, it was determined that Carpio was actually running the day care under a false name.
The health department directed Carpio to cease operation. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services suspended Lopez’s license and directed Carpio to refrain from operating any children’s day care program.
“The care and safety of children in our City is paramount,” said DOI Commissioner Rose Hearn. “An individual who evades day care regulations through fraud puts children at risk and will face criminal prosecution. City procedures revealed this deceptive scheme and shut it down.”
Kirsten Sanchez can be reach via e-mail at ksanchez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3394
