Lorraine Shanley, 68, of Staten Island, is charged with bank fraud and identity theft, accused of stealing more than $400,000 from Survivors of the Shield.
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"Lorraine Shanley allegedly capitalized on tragedy and monetized people's generosity," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said. "As alleged, Shanley stole over 20 percent of the donations to a charity whose sole mission is to help the families of NYPD officers killed in the line of duty."
Prosecutors say Shanley used the checks and a credit card from the group's bank account to go on a spending spree.
They say the bulk of the money went to family members and to pay legal fees in a criminal case against her son.
Shanley served as volunteer treasurer from at least 2010 to 2017, during which time the charity received approximately $1.9 million in donations -- more than 99 percent of which came from NYPD employees.
Authorities say that she used the charity's bank account and credit card to:
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--Write at least $45,000 in checks that were either payable to family members or that were made out to other people but which Shanley double endorsed and deposited into her own accounts
--Pay approximately $29,000 for her grandchild's private school tuition;
--Pay approximately $63,000 for legal services and expenses related to criminal charges against her son
--Pay approximately $32,000 for personal dental expenses
--Pay approximately $25,000 for landscaping on her personal residence
--Purchase more than $8,000 in event tickets, including over $1,400 for Barbra Streisand concert tickets
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If convicted of the top charge, she faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Shanley also served on the board of trustees for the New York City Police Museum.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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