Managing Director of Maywood, New Jersey Elderly and Disabled Housing Facility Admits to Embezzling Over $544,000

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County woman admitted to embezzling more than $544,000 from a residential facility located in Maywood, New Jersey where she was employed, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.

Elaine Benanti, 69, of Garfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, on January 20, 2026, to embezzling, stealing, and obtaining by fraud more than $544,000 of funds belonging to and under the care, custody and control of the Maywood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation (MSCHC) which operated Lydecker Manor, in Maywood, New Jersey, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A).

According to the documents filed in this case and statements by the defendant in open court: 

From in or about January 2017 through in or about December 2021, Benanti served as the Managing Director of Lydecker Manor, a residential facility with approximately 136 units that provided housing for individuals over 62 or with disabilities.  Benanti’s responsibilities included supervising Lydecker employees, providing information to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provided significant funding for Lydecker Manor, and paying Lydecker Manor’s bills.  Benanti also issued salary and bonus checks to herself and at least four other Lydecker employees in amounts set by Lydecker Manor’s Board of Trustees. 

Benanti admitted that she issued salary checks that significantly exceeded the amounts the Board approved on an annual basis, including checks to herself and four other employees.  For example, Benanti admitted that, in 2021, she issued salary payments to herself exceeding her approved annual salary of $132,613.00 by more than $40,000.00, and that she inflated her approved bonus for the prior year by more than $2,500.00. She also admitted that she issued salary, bonus, and retirement account checks that exceeded the Board’s approved amounts for four other employees from 2017 through 2021.  She further admitted to issuing a supplemental insurance payment to a relative who was not employed by Lydecker Manor.

In total, Benanti admitted to embezzling approximately $544,289.95 from Lydecker Manor via these various means.  As part of her plea agreement with the Government, Benanti agreed to forfeit this amount.   

The embezzlement charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2026.

Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of special agent in charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark as well as special agents with the Office of Inspector General with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Northeast Region, under the direction of special agent in charge Shawn Rice.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.

                                                                       ###

Defense counsel: Anthony J. Iacullo, Esq., Roseland