Ex-City Council secretary gets 4 years probation for theft from elderly woman

A FORMER CITY Council secretary who had been charged with stealing more than $30,000 in Social Security payments from an elderly woman was sentenced yesterday to four years probation.

Nancy Gonzalez, 54, showed no emotion and did not speak during the brief hearing before Common Pleas Judge Frank Palumbo. She pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one count of tampering with public records.

As part of her sentence, which was negotiated with the District Attorney's Office, Gonzalez must pay $15,394 to her victim, Iris Galarza, 92, and must cooperate with the prosecution of her codefendant and former boyfriend, William Galarza, 56.

Galarza, the great nephew of Iris Galarza, was arrested earlier this month, according to court records.

Gonzalez, who had worked for City Council since July 1981 and had been earning about $60,000 at the time of her arrest in July 2012, was the victim's Social Security payee with responsibility for receiving her payments and ensuring that her bills were paid and her basic needs were met.

Well, that didn't happen.

In December 2011, after spotting Galarza disheveled, reeking of urine and receiving free food from a store owner, police officers Dennise Andujar and Leslie Pomales followed her home to Hancock Street near Norris in Kensington.

The officers found that Galarza was living in abject poverty, with no running water or electricity. Her home had no stove, sink or refrigerator, and the toilet and tub were filled with mud.

A seven-month investigation led to Gonzalez, who lived in a tidy Torresdale home and who had been Galarza's Social Security payee since 2005. She was asked to retire from City Council shortly after her arrest, said Jane Roh, spokeswoman for Council President Darrell Clarke.

"It's a tragedy. It shows a level of depravity that people would take advantage when they're put in positions where they have money and they're supposed to care for others," said Assistant District Attorney Michael Bonner.

"I think, unfortunately, it happens more than we know. We're fortunate in this case, which came about because there were police officers who were just out and about on duty and just happened to see this poor woman," Bonner added.

Prison time was not sought for Gonzalez because of her cooperation and to expedite her repayment to the victim, Bonner said

He said it is anticipated that William Galarza also will be ordered to pay more than $15,000 in restitution to Iris Galarza, who is now living in an elder-care facility.

Gonzalez and Galarza spent their victim's Social Security money on bills and vacations, the prosecutor said.

Defense lawyer John Rooney declined to comment on behalf of Gonzalez.