Disgraced grandson of state Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo, sprung from prison, promptly lands gig with new nonprofit
EXCLUSIVE: Ricardo (Richard) Izquierdo Arroyo works in “case management” for Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs
Comments (1)BY JENNIFER H. CUNNINGHAM / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013, 9:12 PM
SMITH, BRYAN, FREELANCE NYDN
Ex-con Richard Izquierdo Arroyo now works with homeless former prison inmates, the Daily News has learned. The grandson of a state assemblywoman and nephew of a city councilwoman served nearly a year in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $200,000 from a taxpayer-funded nonprofit property management company.
He's got the political connections, he’s out of jail and now he has a new job helping homeless ex-cons get their own lives back on track.
The politically-connected former head of a Bronx charter school — who served time for embezzlement — has quietly taken up a position at a another nonprofit, the Daily News has learned.
Now paying restitution after serving nearly a year in federal lockup, Ricardo (Richard) Izquierdo Arroyo works on “case management” for Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs.
Izquierdo resigned as the head of The South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures and the Arts in 2009, after he was charged with looting more than $200,000 from SBCC Management Corp., an unrelated taxpayer-funded nonprofit that managed low-income apartment buildings in the South Bronx.
He pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $115,000 to pay for lavish meals and trips, and spending some of the pilfered funds on his grandmother, state Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo.
Izquierdo Arroyo then served 10 months in federal prison.
But now, his LinkedIn page lists his job as “case management” for NAICA, which “has been providing housing intervention and assistance services to residents of the Bronx since it was established in 1974,” according to its Facebook page.
It was unclear Monday if Izquierdo Arroyo has any background in case management. He lists his case management experience as his current position, according to his LinkedIn page.
Izquierdo Arroyo did not return requests for comment Monday. His boss, Eduardo LaGuerre, told the Daily News in an emailed statement that NAICA currently employs “several individuals that have criminal records but who are now contributing members of our society.”
“Mr. Izquierdo was hired as a case manager for his experienced (sic), skills and ability to relate to homeless man (sic) that are seeking an opportunity to better themselves,” LaGuerre said in the statement.
LaGuerre said Izquierdo Arroyo has been an exemplary employee at NAICA and previously worked at another nonprofit, “Promesa/Basics, Inc., where he also provide (sic) excellent services to the homeless residents in their shelter.” LaGuerre did not respond to an emailed follow up from the News asking what Izquierdo’s background in case management was.
LaGuerre said Izquierdo Arroyo has helped homeless ex-cons become productive members of society.
“Everyone in our society deserves a second change (sic) once they have been rehabilitated and done the time that our Judicial system placed upon them,” LaGuerre said in the email.
LaGuerre did not respond to a follow-up email requesting the amount of Izquierdo Arroyo’s salary.
Besides being Assemblywoman Arroyo’s grandson and her former chief of staff, Izquierdo Arroyo is the nephew of Bronx Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo.
Predictably, his appointment has raised a red flag among observers of New York’s not-for-profit sector.
Doug Sauer, CEO of the New York Council of Nonprofits, questioned whether his appointment was politically motivated.
“How did he get this job over any other candidate?” Sauer said. “Was it openly solicited? What is the compelling argument that overrides his history, which affects the organization that hired him?”
“It doesn’t pass the smell test.”
Sauer said although a case management position is a relatively low-level job that does not have access to the nonprofit’s finances, he wondered whether NAICA performed a background check on Izquierdo Arroyo.
“I don’t know of not-for-profits who would expose themselves to this,” Sauer said. “It’s not about the politics, it’s not about the family connection, it’s about the charitable purpose of the organization.”
jcunningham@nydailynews.com
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