Parks Non-profit Head Charged With Stealing Funds

A former Parks Department Commissioner and non-profit head was charged with the theft of over $50,000 in funds from a Queens conservancy group, the District Attorney said this week.

Estelle Cooper, 82, a resident of Whitestone, was charged with second and third degree grand larceny this week after an internal audit at her former company, Unisphere, Inc, allegedly discovered that she stole more than $50,000 from the non-profit's coffers.

The company turned its evidence over to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown in February, and a grand jury investigation followed. 

The group funds activities and events in the park, the largest in Queens.

Cooper was acting as both the head of the conservancy and as an assistant commissioner of the Queens Parks Department, until her resignation from both positions in December and January, respectively.