Woman Who Ordered Acid Attack On Colleague Sentenced To 17 Years In Prison

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - One of two people involved in an acid attack on a Queens woman was sentenced Thursday.

D. Alexandra Dyer was splashed with a caustic liquid similar to Drano as she left work back in 2015. The attack left her with chemical burns to the face and eyes. She said she wanted to be in court as one of the people responsible for the heartless assault was sentenced for the crime.

Dyer was the executive director of the Healing Arts Initiative, a group that worked with people facing social, mental or physical challenges. Investigators later determined the attack was an attempt to cover up an embezzlement scheme at the group.

Kim Williams was convicted of stealing $750,000 from Healing Arts Initiative between 2012 and 2015. Her friend Pia Louallen allegedly got 20 percent of the money and Jerry Muhammad allegedly carried out the attack. The charity eventually shut down.

Williams, 49, was sentenced to 17 years. She admitted she ordered Muhammad to throw the substance on Dyer.

"The defendant used her position to steal thousands of dollars in funding from a non-profit that helped society's most vulnerable individuals. Working with another individual, the defendants inflicted serious bodily harm to an unsuspecting woman, and in doing so, left the victim with life-altering injuries to her face and body. The lengthy sentence imposed by the court today is appropriate given the heinous nature of the crime," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Dyer and prosecutors made sure they were placed inches under the noses of Muhammad, who pleaded guilty to attacking her.

"Here is your handiwork look what you've done to a life," she told CBS2's Dave Carlin following Williams' sentencing.

The defendants did not even glance at photos which showed the immediate aftermath of the attack, which did not seem to phase their victim. Dyer didn't shed a tear as she described losing her eyebrows, eyelashes, and eyelids.

She now has scar tissue that restricts her mouth and prevents her from growing her hair long. The heinous attack was revenge on Dyer, who told the court about her strong faith which doesn't allow her to hate her attackers.

"Bad doesn't win out," she said.

Moving forward, Dyer says she has a message for those who may feel hopeless in life.

"There's always someone or somethings that can help you come back," she said.

Muhammad's sentencing is set for Feb. 20. He is also set to receive 17 years, according to the DA's office.