UTICA, N.Y. — A former direct–support assistant with the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) who made more than $4,500 in unauthorized charges on his state-issued credit card was sentenced March 19 in Oneida County Court.
Thomas Telesco, age 42, of Rome, who previously pled guilty on Feb. 5 to third-degree grand larceny, was sentenced by Judge Michael L. Dwyer to five years’ probation, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced in a press release. Telesco was also ordered to pay full restitution.
“OPWDD has no tolerance for the theft of state taxpayer dollars,” OPWDD Commissioner Kerri Neifeld said in the release. “Following the separation of a former employee from state service, an OPWDD audit made by the former employee prompted a referral to the inspector general’s office for investigation of the misuse of funds. This led to the subsequent indictment of this former employee. I applaud the actions of our staff for identifying this criminal activity and for bringing it to the attention of the inspector general’s office who ensured this case was fully prosecuted.”
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The inspector general’s investigation, prompted by a referral from OPWDD, including the review of video surveillance and corresponding receipts, found that after being terminated from OPWDD, Telesco used his state-issued credit card to purchase $4,583.43 in fuel at eight area gas stations for himself and known associates.
“Fraud committed by public servants is inexcusable and is particularly egregious when perpetrated by an employee of an agency dedicated to serving a vulnerable population,”Inspector General Lang said in the release. “My office will continue to work diligently to protect New Yorkers and taxpayer funds from fraud and misconduct.”
Staff members responsible for conducting the investigation include Senior Investigator Dale Richter, former investigator Steven Brucker, and Investigative Counsel Gina Wisniewski under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General for the Upstate Regional Office Jim Davis and Chief of Investigations for the Upstate Regional Office Sherry Amarel.
The Rome Police Department assisted with the investigation and Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville and his staff prosecuted the matter.
