New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang Announces Key Appointments
Today, as part of her continuing efforts to increase integrity, transparency, and accountability within New York State government, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced three significant appointments within her office.
Jonathan Schultz Appointed Attorney-in-Charge for DOCCS Matters
In furtherance of her commitment to providing strong oversight to New York State’s corrections system, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang has appointed Investigative Counsel Jonathan Schultz Attorney-in-Charge (AIC) for matters relating to the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). In this role Schultz will oversee all of OIG’s DOCCS related investigations, audits, and compliance initiatives, ensuring that OIG is equipped to proactively identify and address gaps and trends that impact the State’s incarcerated population and those working within its correctional facilities.
Since joining the OIG in 2019, Schultz has led numerous complex investigations into allegations of fraud, corruption and abuse within New York State Executive Branch Agencies. More recently, Schultz assisted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the development and implementation of a fraud mitigation and payment integrity framework for the USDA’s $2.2 billion Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, as part of which he served as the principal liaison between various federal oversight agencies, including the USDA-Office of the Inspector General and United States General Accounting Office.
A graduate of University at Buffalo and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, prior to joining OIG, Schultz served for nine years as an Assistant District Attorney with the Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) District Attorney’s Office, where he supervised junior attorneys and prosecuted violent criminal offenses, including child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and homicide.
"Jonathan's appointment represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to ensure integrity within DOCCS," stated New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. "My commitment to ensuring fairness and accountability in our state’s corrections system is unwavering and I look forward to working closely with Jonathan and our partners at DOCCS to ensure that we continue to do everything possible to accomplish that goal."
As of July 1, 2024, DOCCS was comprised of over 15,200 state employees who administer the confinement and rehabilitation of 33,351 incarcerated New Yorkers and 24,572 parolees across 44 correctional facilities statewide. In 2023, almost 53% of the complaints received by the Office of the Inspector General were related to DOCCS. Such complaints came from incarcerated New Yorkers, their families, advocates, and DOCCS personnel.
OIG's extensive activities across DOCCS include investigations of abuse complaints against incarcerated people and DOCCS personnel, allegations of corruption and other malfeasance, and audits to assist DOCCS in improving its services and operations. Recent DOCCS related reports include: Review of the Lost Wage Benefit Within DOCCS; DOCCS Drug Testing Program Report; and Report on SSU Lost Wage Benefit and DOCCS WC.
Alla Korsunskiy Promoted to Chief of Audit for the Downstate Regional Offices
Alla Korsunskiy, a forensic auditor with over 25 years of experience identifying and rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse within city and state agencies, has been promoted to Chief of Audit for the Downstate Regional Offices of the Offices of the New York State Inspector General (OIG). The Downstate Region, comprised of offices located in New York City, Hauppauge, and Suffern, houses a talented staff of forensic investigative auditors, certified fraud examiners, and accountants who support investigations and proactive reviews of entities under the jurisdiction of OIG.
Korsunskiy, who joined OIG as an investigative auditor in 2008 and has served as a senior forensic investigative auditor since 2022, has led numerous complex and high-profile financial investigations and audits for OIG that have substantiated allegations of public corruption, conflicts of interest, theft, embezzlement, procurement fraud, bid-rigging, and healthcare fraud. Her work has led to criminal prosecutions, administrative charges, civil penalties, and the recovery of millions of dollars in restitution for New York State.
"Alla's promotion is a testament to her exceptional skill and dedication in safeguarding the integrity of our public institutions," said Chief Deputy Inspector General Michele Bayer. "She is a dedicated public servant, outstanding mentor, and beloved colleague, whose leadership will ensure rigorous scrutiny and accountability in our audit processes for years to come.”
Prior to joining OIG, Korsunskiy, a graduate of the College of Staten Island, served for ten years as a Special Investigator and Investigative Auditor for the New York City Department of Investigation, where she performed investigations pertaining to money laundering, tax evasion, kickbacks, and prevailing wage violations within city agencies.
Joel Mercer Named Deputy Chief of Investigations for the Western Region
New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced today the appointment of Joel Mercer, a 27-year veteran of state and federal law enforcement, as the Deputy Chief of Investigations for the Western Region of the Offices of the Inspector General (OIG), where he will assist in supervising and managing investigative staff based in Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.
Mercer, a 1985 graduate of SUNY College at Oneonta, spent the first 22 years of his career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, first as a Special Agent in the Bureau’s Buffalo Office, before being promoted to the position of Senior Resident Agent of the FBI’s Ithaca office, where he was responsible for all matters arising in Cortland, Tompkins and Tioga Counties. During his FBI career, Mercer was the recipient of both the United States Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement and the United State Department of Justice Tax Division Aware for Excellence in Criminal Investigations.
After joining OIG in 2019, Mercer has served an Investigator in the agency’s Syracuse Office, where he has led investigations into allegations of fraud, corruption, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, and abuse in agencies, authorities and boards under the jurisdiction of OIG. Mercer has also investigated allegations of wrongdoing under the purview of the OIG’s Office of the Welfare Inspector General and Workers Compensation Inspector General, and conducted oversight of gaming activity within the jurisdiction of the New York State Gaming Commission.
“The Offices of the Inspector General, and by extension all New Yorkers, are extraordinarily fortunate to have someone of Joel Mercer’s experience, intelligence, and temperament standing watch against misconduct in state government,” said Chief of Staff Ryan Hayward. “I am grateful that Joel was willing to take on this leadership position to ensure that our entire staff can benefit from his mentorship.”
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