THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1998 -- District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau and New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) Commissioner Edward Kuriansky announced today the indictments of an employee of the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee (HANAC) and 12 welfare recipients for stealing more than $61,000 in public assistance funds.
Silmary Vega, 26, was employed as a receptionist at HANAC which is one of several agencies contracted by Human Resources Administration's Office of Employment Services (OES) to provide employment training and educational programs such as the General Equivalency Diploma Program (GED) to welfare recipients. The committee is located at 109 West 116th in Manhattan.
One of the defendant's responsibilities was to track welfare recipients participating in HANAC's GED program. She processed attendance rosters and indicated on these forms the amount of supplemental benefits for transportation and child care that a participant was entitled to. The average monthly check was for $30.
The investigation revealed that during the period from April 1994 to June 1996, Vega filled out the attendance rosters for some GED program participants falsely claiming they were entitled to as much as $600 in monthly supplemental benefits. Then she would submit the rosters to OES for payment authorization. The participants would then pick up their money at a check cashing location and sign a receipt. Generally, Vega arranged to meet the participants at her office where they would split the money. As a result of the defendants' fraud, OES issued over $44,000 in illegal supplemental benefits.
The defendant also submitted fraudulent child care benefit request forms for welfare recipients enabling her to steal over $16,000 that she also split with the recipients.
Vega has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Second, Third and Fourth Degrees and with Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, The twelve welfare recipients have been charged with varying degrees of Grand Larceny and with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. Six other welfare recipients have also been arrested and charged with felonies. The investigation is continuing.
Three of the defendants indicted are not in custody.
Grand Larceny in the Second Degree is a Class C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Tampering with Public Records is the First Degree are Class D felonies punishable by a maximum of 7 years in prison. Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree are Class E felonies punishable by a maximum of 4 years in prison.
The investigations were conducted by Gerard Hoey, DOI's Inspector General for HRA and members of his staff including, Supervising Investigator Margaret Shivers and Confidential Investigators Michael Ballad and Mauricio Kasianko. The prosecutions of the cases are being handled by Assistant District Attorney Steven Kobre under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Bridget Fleming, the Chief of the District Attorney's Welfare Fraud Unit.
Mr. Morgenthau also extends his thanks to the Human Resources Administration's Department of Employment Services for their assistance in the investigation.
DEFENDANTS
Silmary Vega, of the Bronx, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Second, Third and Fourth Degree and Tampering With Public Records In the First Degree.
Evelyn Delgado, Crystal Mosley, Sandra Rodriguez, Raiza Brown, and Edma Rodriguez, all of the Bronx were each charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.
Omayra Hernandez, of Brooklyn, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.
Carmen Ramirez, of the Bronx, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree.
Hilda Rosario and Annette Ramos, both of the Bronx, were each charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.
Judy Gonzalez, of the Bronx, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.
Lucy Lucena, of Manhattan, was charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Petit Larceny.
Gina Payne, of Manhattan, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.
Rachel Rodriguez, of Brooklyn, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.
Majorie Carriel and Iraida Torres both of the Bronx, were each charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Petit Larceny.
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