ALBANY, N.Y. — Five New York correctional officers accused of faking injuries and illnesses to collect thousands of dollars in unearned pay are facing felony charges, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.
The officers — all current or former employees at Ulster and Wallkill correctional facilities — were arrested in late October following an 18-month investigation by the state Inspector General’s Office, the Times Union reports.
Prosecutors allege the officers collectively stole more than $15,000 in workers’ compensation benefits over several years. One officer is accused of holding two state jobs at once, while another allegedly submitted 22 forged medical notes to receive fraudulent sick leave payments.
The arrests come amid ongoing staffing challenges within New York’s correctional facilities. Earlier this year, prison employees across the state went on strike to protest working conditions, prompting officials to deploy thousands of National Guard members to maintain order.
The charged officers include:
- Anthony Tacti, 34, of Kerhonkson — Pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, including insurance fraud. Prosecutors said Tacti collected nearly $9,000 in benefits after falsely claiming an injury while working as a correctional officer at Ulster Correctional Facility, all while earning additional income as a state home health aide.
- Christine Donovan, 41, of Lake Katrine — Pleaded not guilty to three felony charges. Donovan is accused of submitting two forged doctors’ notes for a nonexistent medical visit to receive nearly $6,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.
- Jeremy LaChance, 42, of Kerhonkson — Pleaded not guilty to three felony charges. LaChance, who remains employed as a correctional officer at Wallkill Correctional Facility, allegedly forged multiple medical notes to receive about $3,000 in fraudulent sick leave pay.
- Ashli Paulino, 36, of Mountain Dale — Charged with three felonies, including grand larceny. Prosecutors said Paulino submitted false medical forms to obtain $1,700 in benefits before resigning from her position at Ulster Correctional Facility.
- Brian Porter, 49, of Monticello — Charged with two felonies for allegedly forging a medical document to receive $1,050 in workers’ compensation benefits. Porter was fired from Ulster Correctional Facility, where he had worked since 2014.
State Inspector General Lucy Lang said the alleged scheme further strains a system already struggling with staffing shortages.
“This conduct worsens already severe staffing shortages within New York’s correctional facilities,” Lang said.
