A senior audit clerk for Westchester County's Department of Social Services has been arrested and is accused of bilking several day care centers out of money.

Officials from the Westchester County District Attorney's Office say 61-year-old Cheryl Spencer of Mount Vernon is accused of demanding payments from providers in exchange for issuing reimbursement checks.

As part of the Child Day Care Assistance program, the county provides financial assistance for daycare expenses to eligible families. The money for the expenses is transmitted from DSS directly to the day care provider.

As a senior audit clerk for the county's social services department, Cheryl Spencer was responsible for handling the paperwork and the reimbursement checks that go to day care providers.

Prosecutors say it was between June 1, 2024, and April 4, 2025, that Spencer received complaints from five Westchester day care providers regarding late or missing reimbursement checks.

According to investigators, Spencer allegedly told the providers they would have to pay her money for the paperwork to be processed so they could get their checks.

Prosecutors say one day care provider first paid Spencer $200 in cash, then received the reimbursement check in the mail several days later, and over several months ended up paying Spencer more than $1,000 to continue receiving the checks in a timely fashion.

At least four other Westchester day care providers alleged they were victimized in a similar manner.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace says,

"As alleged, Ms. Spencer preyed on daycare providers serving financially struggling families, placing their facilities at serious risk of closure. Not only is she accused of a serious breach of public trust, but she allegedly exploited a vulnerable population in order to line her own pockets." Cheryl Spencer was arrested and arraigned in White Plains City Court Tuesday. She's facing multiple charges including five counts each of felony Bribe Receiving, Criminal Solicitation and Official Misconduct. Spencer was released on her own recognizance as none of the charges are bail-eligible and temporary orders of protection have been issued to all the victims in the case.

Spencer has been placed on administrative leave without pay and is due back in court on Aug. 26.