New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the felony conviction of Phillip Harris, a former nursing home aide in Nassau County, for sexually assaulting two residents at Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in March 2022. Harris, 43, from Central Islip, was found guilty by a Nassau County jury on nine charges related to the abuse of vulnerable residents under his care.
Attorney General James stated, “Every nursing home resident deserves high-quality care and should be able to trust that their caregivers will treat them with dignity and respect. Phillip Harris’ despicable crimes endangered vulnerable nursing home residents, and now my office has brought him to justice. I will not allow anyone to mistreat or take advantage of New York nursing home residents.”
Harris began working at the facility in late December 2021. According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), one resident reported an assault to his wife and daughter, who then notified Glen Cove police and the nursing home administration. The resulting investigation uncovered another incident involving a second disabled resident.
The jury convicted Harris on three counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree (a class E felony), two counts of endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person or an incompetent or physically disabled person in the second degree (a class E felony), two counts of willful violation of public health laws (misdemeanors), and two counts of forcible touching (class A misdemeanors). He was acquitted on three counts related to falsifying business records. Sentencing is scheduled for December 19; Harris faces up to one and one-third to four years in state prison for each felony charge.
The investigation was conducted by OAG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) detectives Christopher Miro and Thomas Fisch, with support from other members including Detective Robert Hatt and Medical Analyst Mary Conway. Legal support was provided by Nicole Giotta.
Attorney General James acknowledged assistance from Detective Steven Grella, Glen Cove Police Department, and the New York State Department of Health.
Special Assistant Attorney General Prabhjot Sekhon-Treanor prosecuted the case with help from Regional Director Veronica Bindrim-MacDevitt and Chief of Criminal Investigations Thomas O’Hanlon. The Division of Criminal Justice is overseen by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado under First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Attorney General James urged individuals with information about potential abuse or neglect in nursing homes to file confidential complaints online or call OAG’s MFCU hotline at (833) 249-8499.
For federal fiscal year 2026, funding for New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit totals $70.8 million. Of this amount, $53.1 million comes from a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services while $17.7 million is funded by New York State.
