After three-month delay, Ex-Sanders staffer living in homeless shelter receives final check

Larry Malcolm Smith Jr., a former staffer to State Sen. James Sanders, has received his final check, Sanders said. Photo courtesy of Smith

By David Brand

A former aide to Queens State Sen. James Sanders has received his final paycheck from the state legislature, two weeks after the Eagle reported that he was missing weeks of pay while living in a Manhattan homeless shelter.

Larry Malcolm Smith Jr., 22, worked as a constituent liaison for Sanders from September to November 2020 but did not get paid after he resigned. The senate’s central staff is responsible for issuing payment.

Sanders said he was unaware of the issue until an Eagle reporter contacted his office.

“This was the first time the Senator’s office was made aware that there was a problem and if contacted sooner could have facilitated a timely resolution,” he said in a statement Feb. 5.

After Smith and some supporters rallied outside the senator’s office, Sanders said his chief of staff connected Smith with the senate personnel department to receive his pay. 

The payment envelope was returned at least twice until Smith fixed a clerical error in his initial employment paperwork, Sanders said. 

The correction enabled the senate to again mail the money.

In a text message, Smith confirmed that had received the final payment.