Wife Of Monkee Micky Dolenz Arrested For Defrauding Affordable Housing Program

NEW YORK — The wife of Monkees vocalist Micky Dolenz pleaded guilty Friday to charges that she defrauded a public housing program in New York City.

Authorities in the city's Department of Investigation said Donna Quinter, 54, illegally received $136,866 in government rental subsidies for an apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

The subsidies were supposed to go to middle-income families who were in danger of being forced out of a rent-regulated apartment building that was being converted into luxury condominiums.

Investigators say Quinter failed to disclose that she was sharing the apartment with a friend who paid rent. The home also wasn't her only residence. Since marrying Dolenz in 2002, the former flight attendant has lived with her husband in Bell Canyon, Calif., an exclusive gated community outside Los Angeles.

Quinter surrendered to authorities in New York on Friday morning, then resolved the case in a matter of hours. She wrote out a check to the city for the full $136,866, went before a judge in Manhattan and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor larceny charge, then received her sentence: five days of community service.

Her lawyer, Bridget Rohde, didn't return phone and e-mail messages Friday.

New York City has a number of programs designed to allow middle class families to pay reduced rents in homes they have occupied for a long period of time.

Fraud, however, is common. In some cases, people hold on to their apartments even after they have moved out of the city, either using them as vacation homes or secretly renting them out.

The Department of Investigation, a city law enforcement agency that probes fraud and other abuses in government programs and agencies, discovered Quinter's eligibility problems after it began examining who was getting subsidies in her building in 2008.

"Law abiding New Yorkers struggling to pay their rents and mortgages cannot afford to subsidize cheaters who abuse public housing resources to support privileged lifestyles," the department's commissioner, Rose Gill Hearn, said in a written statement.

Dolenz isn't accused of any wrongdoing.

Comments

[robynapelt]

donna you should not be upset by what the people are saying about you and micky on this comments page . I know we all have problems at one time or another but it all works out in the end . I am a monkee fan and like micky the most like a lot of monkee fans do . I will stand by you and micky what ever happens to you both . just know that you and micky have fans that love you and will be there for you both know matter what happens with you and micky . they will be there for you . . from [e-mail] monkee fan in brisbane australia

[chardonnay48]

Mickey was my favorite Monkee. He still is. I was going to marry him but I was only six and my mom wouldn't let me. I hope things go well for you.

[donnaquinter]

I would like to add a couple more comments regarding this matter....When I first came to NY, the landlords of Ruppert Towers were actively courting new hire flight attendants to move into this building. It was not yet considered a desirable neighborhood and we happily became New Yorkers.
It was, what I considered "Home" for many years. I had room-mates all thru these years....no secret.
When the rules changed with the the gentrifcation of the area, and the building decided to sell the apartments as million dollar + co-ops, I provided the asked for tax returns and was placed in the subsidy program. When I married Micky in 2002, I never hid the fact from them. I always stated I was married living seperately on my Tax Returns that I submitted to management every 2 years. For personal family health reasons, I remained living in NY...while Micky lived in a home in Ca. owned soley by him. I was also advised ,(wrongly), that room-mates were not considered part of my "household".
Did I make some honest mistakes and even some stupid mistakes in my handling of the paperwork?
Yes!......But I would have corrected the situation given the chance. I frankly believe the Dept. of Investigation seized upon this chance to publicly make an example of someone with a celebrity name attached. Thanks for giving me a forum to try to explain .....

[Librarybookworm]

Thank you, Donna, for taking the time to clarify your position. I have been shocked at how viciously judgemental some of the readers who've posted comments here have been. I have been a fan and admirer of The Monkees for many years and have followed Micky's career with interest. I was upset to read the articles regarding this incident and to realize how many different news sources were carrying this story. Obviously I don't really know either of you personally, but from what I know about you and Micky, I had faith from the start that you had no deliberate intent of defrauding the government by keeping your apartment after you married. I applaud you for having the guts to explain your side of the story in this forum, especially after some of the nasty comments that some readers have posted here. I hope that more readers will give you the benefit of the doubt regarding your intentions as well as credit for amending your past errors now to the best of your ability. I wish you and Micky strength to deal with all the negativity that you've been forced to endure since this story broke.

Readers also should not assume that Micky has rightwing political leanings because his agent booked him to play at what turned out to be a rightwing event. I'm fairly sure from things I have heard him say in interviews during the 2008 presidential campaign that this couldn't be farther from the truth.

[jennifer-scarfy]

Hello Donna- I don;t feel you have to explain yourself to anyone. It was very curageous of you to do so. I knew from day one it was probably some mix up and it would get straightened out. I had never set one toe toward judging you or micky. i acually was on your side the whole time. I never lost faith that things would come out ok. I kept you both in my prayers., I don't know about anyone else but i think you are very strong and brave woman.

ps i saw micky about two weeks back and raley feild. i was very thrilled he rememberd me. a gym that fellah.

you both take care ! and dont let any of these potty mouths online bother you.

[chulanow]

It took courage to get on here and post your response ......GOOD FOR YOU!!

I don't believe in judging people based on ONE mistake.....after all we are only human and are bound to make more mistakes in a lifetime than one would like.

Good luck to you and your husband....

[Ontrackmac]

Way to stand up for yourself Donna.
Read the paperwork.
Have a good lawyer.
Live and learn.
$136,866 (wow)

[american-dolt]

Thanks for explaining.

[lonerose]

Yes thanks for clarifying things, I can totally understand the idea of not fully understanding the govt's brand of fine print on an application, have had to sign up for one thing or another at some point in my life as well....they really don't like to give out money for nothing I'm sure you know! I think the error is definitely in not informing them of the changes in circumstance as the time went by -
But I do think you surely just didn't sit down and decide to doop the NYC housing dept as it appears many believe!
Good luck to you as you unravel it all for yourself, I hope you do.

And to all the people who think Micky is conservative because of the gig, hey - it was just a gig, akin to Sheryl Crow a few months back if I may say. Money is money, wouldn't you work it if it were you??

[Professorofdesire]

I went to high school with Mickey; he had no discernible political leanings; he was coming off being "Circus Boy."

[NoSandwiches]

She cheats, has the money to pay back the amount she stole, and then gets five days community service?

If she didn't have money?

jail, right?

[Agentlady007]

Her husband payed her fine. Stop knowing it all people.

[Professorofdesire]

That would be "paid." There's something to know.

[Theda]

Look. let's face it, we've ALL done things that aren't totally legal. No one is perfect, including me. I'll bet everyone here wanting to crucify Donna has done something in their lifetime that they're ashamed of.

[Agentlady007]

We are all immortal when we are young. I wore a bullet proof vest at the age of 16.

[Agentlady007]

This is unfair. She did not obstruct the housing industry and should not be blamed at all. I understand a fine from the firm she works for, but people like this lie to their own employees just to use their people for their communication and marketing skills. She is becoming a victim of undue influence.

[HarlemFreeThought]

Donna Quinter :
In all fairness, I needed to see related stories, and came across the NYpost article, more detailing.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08082009/news/regionalnews/wife_makes_monkee_out_of_city_183535.htm
I live in a Mitchell Lamma development, and I am afraid of 2 things, 1) our management has just terminated their contact due impart to certain tactics on behalf of members of the board of directors. 2) HUD will opt out the program, making the apts market value. I will not condemn or condone what has transpired. Born and raised on the island of Manhattan and know the value attached of a Apartment in New York (tap on the nose). Let's just say at your expense (no pun intended), this was my "teachable moment").

[MadCroation]

When rich people steal they do comunity service. When poor people steal they go to prison.

[PostModernPatriot]

Well, not necessarily. Not in New York City, for similar crimes to this one.

If you're a first offender, chances are you'll get a non-custodial sentence and a conditional discharge to clear your record, even.

Here's a big case from 1996 where "ordinary" people were caught in a rather large welfare fraud scheme, none of them got jail time.

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/20/nyregion/new-york-arrests-46-city-workers-in-welfare-fraud.html

[Theda]

Nice wedding photos:
http://pages.prodigy.net/monkeebiz/MDW.html

[Theda]

Micky's three wives!
http://pages.prodigy.net/monkeebiz/SamTrinaDonnar.jpg

[PostModernPatriot]

All three are stunning! Micky's been a very lucky guy.

[jazzybo]

I remember the Monkees.If I recall correctly they sucked.

[mick7191]

They were made for TV. Frank Zappa actually appeared on the show one time. And "Steppin' Stone" kicks a##. Loved 'em.

[JustinAddison]

Me too! People who don't think they were a real band only know part of the story. Mamas and the Papas, Beach Boys and many others didn't play instruments for their commercial recordings. Didn't make them any less a band!

[HarlemFreeThought]

Monkees were a studio band with famous song writers supporting them.

[Theda]

In retrospect, the Monkees had some really good songs.

[talkingdog]

Wow,....THE MONKEYS,.....they've come full circle.

They defrauded the American public in the 60s masquerading as a band.

Hi Carol KIng!!!

[wadenelson1]

As a teeny bopper a bit too young to understand the Beetles with all their depth and social messages, I really dug the Monkees. They had a bitchin' GTO, and a skateboard with a motor. A realllllllllly long surfboard. And a fun, happy TV show.

Of course it was fun to discover the Beetles in later years, along with Dylan, but at age 9 or so

The Beetles started out like the Monkees with fun stuff like "Twist and Shout" and then got pretty intense pretty fast with Let it Be, Hey Jude, LSD, Back in the USSR and so forth. It was like a heavy fog settling over....or perhaps a drug induced haze required to want to partake of their music and all the drama between Lennon and the rest.

For me "Daydream Believer" will always be a classic, no matter who really wrote it or perfomed it.

[PostModernPatriot]

And don't forget, the Beatles did not write Twist and Shout and many other of the early songs they recorded.

In fact, they recorded a couple of Carole King songs on their early albums too.

Twist & Shout was a hit for the Isley Bros a few years before the Beatles recorded it. The Beatles took (and were very upfront about taking) American R&B and rockabilly music and putting a British spin on it.

Yes, after a few years they became more innovative and "deep" & by the late sixties but not all of us think all of that music was their best music.

Daydream Believer was actually sung by Davy Jones of The Monkees. His vocals are what made the song rock. Micky Dolenz made I'm a Believer rock. If Neil Diamond released Im a Believer with his own vocals in 1966 instead of "giving" the song to the Monkees, it would not be the classic that it is today and it would not be on the list of "500 most influential rock songs" trust me.

Can the guys at least get some credit for that without us having to make nineteen disclaimers about how "fake" they were?

Sinatra didn't write all his songs or play all the instruments on them either. Does it mean he was not talented?

[mick7191]

They were the greatest. Had the belt and everything.

[Hazelnut]

Mmmm, yes. I don't remember the show when it was new, but saw it later on in repeats, it was on in the afternoons when I got home from school. I thought nothing would be cooler than living near the beach with three of my best friends! Lol! Had lots of fun watching that show--makes me smile even now.

[Scottcluthe]

Please dude..Beatles..fer cryin out loud...BEATLES>>>>>>>>>>>>

Next up, The beagles..........er.....Meagles...er...Eagles?.......

hey she got caught in her little game, k?........slap slap " Uh, oh I had NO IDEA!..."

right.

it's the American way! maybe it will make some others who are ripping of NY to get straight.

[stagebandman]

Not fair. Frank Sinatra wrote ONE song. Elvis never wrote one note. Just because they didn't write all the songs (but Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork did write several) doesn't mean they did not have talent. They had 4 distinct and good voices that blended well together. They all had great lead vocal capabilities, and they all really played instruments. Maybe they weren't the greatest musicians in the world, but since when has that mattered?

Their voices were on those albums and they sold well. with most of them going gold. That's not fraud. I think if they had continued to make records after the show, and not just become a nostalgia act, they'd have a lot more respect today. As it is, I've seen Mickey and Davy both in concert and they were excellent.

[JLRoberson]

She shouldn't have been monkeying around.

[thundermummy]

Nice!

[XME]

5 days for community service is pretty much a joke. Granted, I don't think she should spend 10 years in jail, but 5 days? 90 days, AT LEAST, seems more appropriate.

[Theda]

If you live in Bell Canyon, you're definitely NOT poor or "struggling."
http://www.bellcanyon.com/

[Agentlady007]

Advice: Never rideyour motor cycyle in the Hollywood Hills. WALK IT UP.

[Theda]

I'm sorry I wrote this. I was being rude.

[RaderBarbarian]

And that's it? If you get caught, all you have to do is pay back the money and give 5 days of community service? Wow! I'm glad I've learned about this! And I'm going to tell all my New York friends how little they have to lose by trying this scam for themselves. It sure looks like a no-hassle risk, does it not? Come one come all!

[SSGVABEACH]

The check has to clear and your good to go.....
the monkeys su ck and were manufactured by hollywood execs

[stagebandman]

So?

[terramartom]

Money buys your way out when you are unethical.
No money, you go to prison!