April 5, 2016 Staff Report
A devastating acid attack on Skillman Avenue last year was part of a nearly million-dollar scam and cover up, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Two people have been charged for throwing a caustic liquid in a woman’s face, which caused severe burns and required multiple surgeries.
The August 19 attack was part of an elaborate scheme with a third defendant that involved the embezzlement of $750,000-plus from a Queens nonprofit, according to Brown. The victim of the attack was the executive director at the nonprofit who was targeted as a means to conceal the alleged theft.
Brown said that in total three people have been indicted for their roles in the alleged embezzlement and/or assault.
Kim Williams, 47, of the Bronx, worked as an accountant at Hospital Audiences (also known as Healing Arts Initiative), a nonprofit located at 33-02 Skillman Ave. in Long Island City that got fleeced. She conspired with Pia Louallen, 41, of the Bronx, and Jerry Mohammed, 32, of Rensselaer County.
Williams and Mohammed were charged with throwing the caustic liquid in the woman’s face outside the nonprofit’s offices.
Williams allegedly stole $750,000 from Hospital Audiences, which provides access to arts to students and the less fortunate, between 2012 and 2015. She provided Louallen, a close friend, with $150,000 of the illegal proceeds between 2013 and 2015.
It is additionally alleged that in an attempt to conceal her theft, Williams conspired with Mohammed to assault Hospital Audiences’ executive director Rev. D. Alexandra Dyer as she left work.
As Reverend Dyer approached her vehicle, Mohammed threw a caustic substance at her, causing severe burns to her face and other portions of the body. Reverend Dyer was hospitalized and underwent multiple surgeries as a result of the attack.
“This case is troubling on so many different levels,” Brown said. “In an atmosphere of such giving, it is disheartening to see an individual allegedly use her position of fiduciary trust to siphon off tens of thousands of dollars in funds for the personal use of herself and another.”
“More disturbing, perhaps, is the same individual allegedly conspiring with another individual to intentionally seriously injure an innocent victim as part of a cover-up. The three defendants now face serious charges,” he added.
Louallen and Williams are expected to be arraigned later today.
Williams is charged with first-degree assault, fourth-degree conspiracy, fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree grand larceny, identity theft and first-degree falsifying business records.
Louallen is charged with second-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree conspiracy. Mohammed is charged with first-degree assault, fourth-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
If convicted, Louallen faces up to 15 years in prison, Williams faces up to 25 years in prison, and Mohammed faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
One Comment
Unbelievable.
Throw the book at these low life sub humans.