Five Correctional Department Employees Charged With Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Five current and former New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) employees were arrested this week for separate schemes to defraud DOCCS and the state’s workers’ compensation system, resulting in a loss of more than $15,000 to the state.

The defendants, while working as correction officers at Ulster or Wallkill Correctional Facilities, allegedly submitted falsified medical documentation attesting to illness or workplace injuries, or engaged in prohibited employment while collecting full salaries under the DOCCS–New York State Correctional Officer and Police Benevolent Association workers’ compensation contract benefit program

More specifically, three of the defendants are alleged to have submitted one or more fraudulent workers’ compensation leave forms that purported to be signed by medical professionals attesting to examinations that never took place, enabling them to obtain workers’ compensation leave benefits.

A fourth defendant, who asserted to his medical provider that he was 100% disabled and unable to work because of a claimed workplace eye injury, enabling him to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, is alleged to have been working during that time as a state-funded home health aide, for which he was paid over $4,500 by the state.

The fifth defendant is alleged to have submitted in excess of twenty (20) forged sick leave medical notes over a two-year period, enabling him to collect unearned sick leave wages and take unpaid time off when he was scheduled to be at work.

The arrests, which stem from an 18-month investigation conducted by the New York State Inspector General. Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced the arrests.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. According to officials, the employees charged and their alleged activity are:

• Christine Donovan, Lake Katrine, NY (Ulster Correctional Facility) is alleged to have submitted two forged out-of-work notes documenting a nonexistent medical visit in February 2023, resulting in $5,938.44 in improperly paid workers’ compensation benefits. Donovan was previously terminated by DOCCS.
• Jeremy LaChance, Kerhonkson, NY (Wallkill Correctional Facility) is alleged to have submitted 22 forged medical notes in support of personal sick leave excusing him from work as incapacitated, and one forged medical note in support of family sick leave, excusing him from work to care for a minor. He received approximately $3,021.13 in sick leave payments to which he was not entitled and entitled to take other unpaid leave that otherwise would not have been permitted. LaChance remains employed by DOCCS.
• Ashli Paulino, Mountain Dale, NY (Ulster Correctional Facility) is alleged to have submitted two forged workers’ compensation leave forms documenting nonexistent medical visits in November 2022 and March 2023, resulting in $1,719.00 in improperly paid workers’ compensation benefits. Paulino previously resigned from DOCCS.
• Brian Porter, Monticello, NY (Ulster Correctional Facility) is alleged to have submitted one forged workers’ compensation leave form documenting a nonexistent medical visit in November 2021, resulting in $1,053.74 in improperly paid workers’ compensation benefits. Porter was previously terminated by DOCCS.
• Anthony Tacti, Kerhonkson, NY (Ulster Correctional Facility) While on leave due to a claimed workplace injury, and receiving full salary benefits, Tacti is alleged to have claimed a 100% disability and inability to work to his treating physician despite working for much of that leave as a home health aide. Upon returning to work at DOCCS, he is alleged to have continued working the second job, billing for overlapping hours with his state employment. Tacti is accused of receiving more than $4,700 in improper wages and $4,281 in fraudulent workers’ compensation benefits. Tacti remains employed by DOCCS.

Topics Fraud Workers' Compensation Talent Numbers