May 5, 2021
| Hilton
New York State Inspector General Letizia Tagliafierro today announced the arrest of a Finger Lakes-based New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Trade Specialist-Plumber/Steamfitter who allegedly used a State vehicle to conduct personal business during his work hours, and submitted false time reports and vehicle reports to hide his misconduct.
Kevin W. Clark, 60, of Hilton, was arrested and arraigned in Newark Village Court before Galen Town Justice Carol Heald on five counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing (E felony). Clark is currently suspended from OPWDD.
Clark worked for OPWDD as a Trade Specialist-Plumber/Steamfitter based out of OPWDD’s Finger Lakes DDSO Newark Campus. The Inspector General’s investigation found that on four occasions between December 2017 and November 2018, Clark loaded an OPWDD van with scrap metal he claimed to have brought to work and then drove more than 20 miles to Alpco Recycling in Macedon, where he sold the scrap for more than $1,500.
Afterwards, Clark submitted falsified time sheets claiming to have worked these hours, as well as false vehicle logs to make it appear as if the State vehicle was only being used for official State business.
“By filing false documents, this individual covered up his abuse of state time and wrongful use of a state vehicle,” said Inspector General Tagliafierro. “While he engaged in this scheme for personal profit, he is now being held accountable for his actions.”
Inspector General Tagliafierro thanked OPWDD for its assistance with the investigation, the New York State Police for its assistance with the investigation and arrest, and Wayne County District Attorney Michael D. Calarco and his office for prosecuting this matter.
The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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