New York State Workers’ Fraud Compensation Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott announced the arrest of a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) employee on charges she fraudulently collected workers’ compensation benefits – while reporting for work at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks).
“The Workers’ Compensation system is meant to help those injured in the course of their employment to continue to meet their living expenses until they are healthy enough to return to work,” said Inspector General Scott. “It is not meant to unjustly enrich those people who intentionally commit fraud in order to benefit themselves. Here, the defendant allegedly lied about her injury and employment status, collecting benefits to which she was not entitled and will have to account for her actions in the criminal justice system.”
Alicia Parker, 28, of Manhattan, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony and Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.
Inspector General Scott’s investigation found that Parker was employed as a caretaker with NYCHA, which entailed cleaning and maintenance. Parker sustained a job related injury in December 2012. As a result of her injury, Parker was deemed temporarily disabled, excused from work and awarded wage replacement benefits. She was earning $27,000 annually.
In August 2013, while still receiving $172 per week in benefits for lost wages, Parker began working as a fulltime hourly for NYC Parks as a Job Training Participant until February 2014, earning $9.21 per hour. Parker’s duties included maintenance, cleaning, snow removal, and clerical work. In her application for this NYC Parks position, Parker indicated that she had no medical conditions that would preclude her from performing her duties.
In September 2013, Parker falsely testified to the Workers’ Compensation Board that she was still suffering from her injuries and that she was home bound and unemployed. The Inspector General’s investigation, which included obtaining time and attendance records, confirmed Parker’s employment at NYC Parks.
The Inspector General determined that $4,542.56, in benefits were erroneously paid to Parker between August 2013 and February 2014, when she claimed to be both unemployed and disabled but worked for Parks.
Parker was arraigned before the Hon. Heidi C. Cesare of New York City Criminal Court, and is scheduled to return to court July 21.
Inspector General Scott thanked the New York City Department of Investigation for their assistance in the investigation and arrest and New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. for prosecuting this matter.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The New York State Office of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General investigates fraud, abuse and/or illegal acts against the New York State Workers’ Compensation system, including fraud by medical service providers, employers seeking to evade appropriate Workers’ Compensation charges, and employees who fabricate injuries to fraudulently receive system benefits. Complaints and referrals are kept confidential. Call us toll free at 1-888-363-6001 or use our online complaint form: https://www.wcb.ny.gov/onlineforms/FraudComplaintForms.jsp. You also can write to our office at: New York State Office of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General, 100 Broadway, Menands, NY 12241, or 215 W. 125 St, New York, NY 10027.
