NEW YORK — A New York City Department of Correction captain and 10 correction officers have been indicted on corruption, grand larceny and related charges after allegedly submitting false timecards and collecting nearly $229,000 for hours they did not work, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced the indictment April 15, saying the defendants are accused of submitting signed timecards for regular and overtime hours despite allegedly arriving late, leaving early or not showing up for shifts.
“These defendants are accused of submitting fake timesheets resulting in them being paid more than $228,000 that they did not earn,” Clark said in a statement. “They are veteran civil servants who abused the public trust.”
The alleged conduct took place between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, while the employees were assigned to the Donald Cranston Judicial Center on Rikers Island, prosecutors said.
The defendants were identified as DOC Captain William Newlin, 51, and correction officers Raymond Espino, 37; Jason Miller, 44; Raymond Lastra, 55; Odiney Brown, 54; Clifford Compton, 44; Odelle Adams, 54; Jason Catalanotto, 43; Kenyatta Johnson, 59; Katrina Thomas, 45; and Katricia Chandler, 54.
They were variously charged in a 93-count indictment with corrupting the government, grand larceny, defrauding the government and official misconduct. The group was arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Laurence Busching and is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 4.
Acting New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Christopher Ryan said the case comes amid a period when the city was facing a serious staffing shortage in its correctional system.
“Despite a critical correctional staffing shortage in 2023, as charged, these defendants — a Department of Correction Captain and 10 Correction Officers — submitted handwritten timesheets, claiming over $228,000 in regular and overtime hours they did not work by arriving late, leaving early or engaging in ‘no-show’ shifts,” Ryan said in a statement. “This charged misconduct was billed to the taxpayers and undermines public trust and operational safety.”
Prosecutors said the total amount allegedly stolen was $228,989.23. According to the indictment, the amounts attributed to each defendant are:
- William Newlin: $50,083.46
- Raymond Espino: $30,817.17
- Jason Miller: $24,689.80
- Raymond Lastra: $24,434.53
- Odiney Brown: $22,369.50
- Clifford Compton: $17,140.42
- Odelle Adams: $15,967.43
- Jason Catalanotto: $12,625.12
- Kenyatta Johnson: $12,350.72
- Katrina Thomas: $10,088.67
- Katricia Chandler: $8,242.41
The case is being prosecuted by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Bureau with assistance from the New York City Department of Investigation, NYPD detectives assigned to the Bronx District Attorney’s Squad and DOC payroll personnel.
