Westchester clerk busted for shaking down daycare providers

3

WHITE PLAINS, NY – A senior audit clerk for Westchester County’s Department of Social Services is facing a string of criminal charges after being accused of demanding bribes from daycare providers in exchange for processing their reimbursement checks.

Cheryl Spencer, 61, of Mount Vernon, was arrested and arraigned Tuesday in White Plains City Court. Prosecutors say between June 2024 and April 2025, Spencer targeted at least five daycare centers participating in the Child Day Care Assistance program by soliciting cash payments to expedite state-funded reimbursements.

As part of her duties, Spencer handled the paperwork and checks issued by the county to reimburse child care centers providing subsidized services to low-income families. Authorities allege she told…