A Queens woman allegedly stole $65K in funds awarded to her 11-year-old daughter in a medical malpractice lawsuit to pay for liposuction and a tummy tuck.
The Queens District Attorney's office has charged Woodhaven resident Megan Mele, 31, with second-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, alleging [pdf] she faked a court order to withdraw funds from her daughter's bank account to use on herself. Mele's daughter was born with a brachial plexus injury to her right arm, leaving her with limited mobility. She subsequently received a medical malpractice payout, the terms of which included a $50K bank account in her name and regular payments starting after her 18th birthday.
Mele is accused of withdrawing $47K from her daughter's account last March, claiming her daughter was set to have surgery at a children's hospital in San Diego. The hospital has no record of this surgery, according to Queens DA Richard Brown, and the DA believes Mele used the money for a trip to Disneyland. Mele is also accused of asking the court for $19,500 between June and August 2015, which she then allegedly used on liposuction, a tummy tuck, and retail services. Only $633.74 remains in her daughter's account.
"“The defendant is accused of stealing from her own child, who was disabled at birth and had money set aside following a lawsuit settlement. Instead of safeguarding the money for her daughter’s future needs, the defendant is alleged to have thought only of herself," Brown said in a statement. "She allegedly used the child’s bank account as if it were her personal piggy bank—dipping in for money to buy plane tickets, shop online, pay restaurant bills and even splurge on plastic surgery for herself."
Mele faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
