Sullivan fraud investigation update

Posted 8/21/12

MONTICELLO, NY — The initiative in Sullivan County to attack welfare fraud began in March 2013 with the hiring of Gerald Dietz to the position of chief fraud investigator, initially working in the …

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Sullivan fraud investigation update

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MONTICELLO, NY — The initiative in Sullivan County to attack welfare fraud began in March 2013 with the hiring of Gerald Dietz to the position of chief fraud investigator, initially working in the Sullivan County Division of Family Services (DFS). Dietz and the fraud team were ultimately moved into the Sullivan County District Attorney’s office, and the team is now comprised of three investigators, who work exclusively to prevent and prosecute welfare fraud.

At a meeting at the government center on November 6, Sullivan County District Attorney Jim Farrell gave an update about the progress the team has made to date.

Three DFS employees had earlier been arrested for various violations. Farrell said Darlene Conklin had been ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution, George Conklin had been ordered to pay $1,300 in restitution, and they, along with Rhonda Roach were sentenced to probation.

Farrell said that since the beginning of the initiative there have been a total of 79 arrests, and the amount of benefits that went to individuals related to those arrests totals about $500,000.

He said, “The total amount of public assistance alleged to have been stolen amounts to $105,000.” The amount from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps) was $115,000. The amount from Medicaid was $260,000, from the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) was about $10,000 and from child care was about $10,000.

Farrell said there are 30 active prosecutions pending in criminal courts, which he said, “is a tremendous change from before all of this started.”

Responding to criticism

Farrell said, “There has been some criticism of the fraud team in that we’re going after folks who are poor and have no other means. That’s not true. We are going after people who have been criminally taking advantage of the systems that have been put in place for the poor, and that money should be going to the people who need it, and not to the people who don’t”.

He said that if the amount of money alleged to have been stolen was small enough, his office does not initiate a prosecution. He said, “We have a standard non-prosecution agreement which is entered into, and this is best practice quite frankly in other fraud initiatives, and we enter into agreements with folks to pay back the money.”

Farrell said that his office is involved in the process “to make sure that the criticism that I have heard does not become a reality.”

On the other hand, he said that his office wants “to make sure that Sullivan County not a welfare destination.”

Legislator Kitty Vetter asked for clarification about the amount of money alleged to be involved that would trigger a prosecution, and it was noted that George Conklin was asked to repay $1,300.

Farrell said he does not view the case of a DFS employee stealing from the programs in the same way that he views a recipient of services who receives more benefits than he or she is entitled to.

Foster homes and adoptions

At the same meeting there was a discussion about the state of foster homes and adoptions in Sullivan County. Legislator Cindy Gieger read a resolution noting that November is National Adoption Month and, “This year we focus on promoting and supporting sibling connections and the importance of supporting and maintaining sibling ties.”

The rate of children being removed from their homes in Sullivan County because of concerns about being safe in the home environment has risen in recent months. The total number of children being held in county custody now is about 90.

DFS Commissioner Randy Parker said that of the 10 children “taken into care” in the past month, perhaps five will be returned to their biological parents and the rest would need foster parents or adoptive parents.

He said, “What we tell people locally who are interested in adopting is that one way they may end up adopting a child is through the foster care system, by becoming a foster parent.”

He said there are 13 children whose parents have lost their parental rights, and those children will become available for adoption.

He said the biggest need is for homes that “will take teenagers and homes that will take sibling groups.”

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