The transgendered nephew of a hero September 11th firefighter has been busted for scamming $130 at two Staten Island firehouses in a bogus 9/11 charity scheme – and then using the dough to score heroin, authorities said.
Jacob Chelsen, 24, was arrested Tuesday, and charged by Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan with scheming to defraud and petit larceny. He was arraigned Thursday at his bedside at Bayley Seton psychiatric hospital before being released on his own recognizance.
Chelsen’s arrest record lists his sex as “female;” he was born Danielle Chelsen.
But he presents himself as a male called Jacob Kael on his Facebook page, and is referred to as male in the criminal complaint.
Sources said Chelsen showed up at Engine 161/Ladder 81 on McClean Avenue and Engine 160/Rescue 5 on Clover Road in late January, hawking t-shirts and claiming to be raising funds on behalf of the “Be the Hero for A Hero Foundation ” for a bone marrow transplant for Jimmy Martinez, a 9/11 firefighter with multiple myeloma.
The foundation itself is legitimate and was started by Jacob’s late uncle, firefighter Roy Chelsen.
The elder Chelsen, who rushed a group of his comrades out of the North Tower just before it collapsed on September 11, died of a rare blood cancer while waiting for a marrow transplant in June, 2011, shortly after the Zadroga Act was signed.
Investigating FDNY fire marshal Daniel Flynn told prosecutors that Jacob Chelsen is not affiliated with the charity, which is run by other members of his family.
According to the criminal complaint against him, Jacob approached a total of ten firefighters and six of them forked over $10 to $20 each.
He was arrested after his father, Steven – Roy’s brother – turned him in, another source said.
Last summer, the source said, Jacob Chelsen forged his dad’s name on $300 worth of checks to get cash.
Chelsen told investigators he used the money he scammed from the firefighters to buy heroin.
He also said he’d recently gotten out of detox and was going into rehab.
“This had nothing at all to do with the foundation,” Chelsen’s lawyer, Ron Castorina said.
“This is about a troubled youth who is now getting the help he needs.”
Chelsen has five prior arrests for assault and one for a suspended license, sources said.
He is due back in court February 10.