By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-896112.mp3
Albany, NY – A year long investigation of a man who worked for New York State for 30 years has resulted in serious charges that are prompting officials to improve internal controls to prevent fraud and abuse. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
The joint report released Tuesday by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and State Inspector General Jospeh Fisch says Howard Dean, now retired as director of the food processing center at the Oneida Correctional Facility in Rome, filed bogus time sheets and travel documents that cost taxpayers $500,000. DiNapoli says that for 17 years, week after week, Dean claimed to have worked 5 days a week when he served as the director of the Food Production Center at Oneida Correctional Facility in Rome. Inspector Fisch says prison management looked the other way>
DiNapoli says the report contains recommendations to ensure adequate controls are in place to ensure nothing like this can ever happen again. Dean retired in August 2008. Prior to that, he made $112,743 a year. He currently receives a $57,381 annual pension. The case has been referred to prosecutors while auditors look for more wrongdoing.
Click here for a copy of the report.