Story by Ethan
On May 28th, 2026, the arrests of Hipolilto Diaz (64), Rosa Pujols-Baez (50), and Maritza Hernandez (52), were announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.. Hipolito Diaz from New York, New York, was charged with three counts of first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing as an E felony, three counts of first-degree Falsifying Business Records as an E felony, second-degree Grand Larceny as a C felony, and Defrauding the Government. Rosa Pujols-Baez from New York, New York, and Maritza Hernandez of the Bronx, New York, were both charged with four counts of first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing as an E felony, four counts of first-degree Falsifying Business Records as an E felony, second-degree Grand Larceny as a C felony, and Defrauding the Government. The arrest and charges against Hipolito Diaz, Rosa Pujols-Baez, and Maritza Hernandez were a result of an investigation handled by the New York City Department of Investigation and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Major Economic Crimes Bureau.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the defendants were employed as sanitation workers for Office of Chief Medical Examiner facilities. From March 2020 until June 2024 it’s alleged that the defendants stole a total of $222,000 in wages through submitting CityTime webclock entries for overtime hours while they were not in the building. It’s alleged that; Hipolito Diaz stole $60,079.94 in wages, approximately $59,805,39 from overtime. Rosa Pujols-Baez stole $72,647.21 in wages, approximately $70,815.79 from overtime. Martiza Hernandez stole $90,586.26 in wages, approximately $89,550.78 from overtime.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Hipolito Diaz, Rosa Pujols-Baez, and Maritza Hernandez are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
