Scam Netted $65G: Arrest ACS Staffer In Foster Dad Ruse

Scam Netted $65G
Arrest ACS Staffer In Foster Dad Ruse

A Supervisor with the Administration for Children's Services was arrested last week by the Department of Investigation for allegedly submitting false claims for three foster children not in the care of an accomplice, with the two splitting more than $65,000 in the scheme.

JOHN B. MATTINGLY: Safeguards now in place. Evelyn McCoy, who had been employed since 1970 by the agency's Fiscal Audit Budget unit, was charged with theft and mail fraud and accused of submitting paperwork falsely asserting that Marvin Dunlap was the foster care guardian of three children. Ms. McCoy then changed the agency's rating of the children to entitle Mr. Dunlap to increased payments, according to the DOI report.

ACS: Never Again

ACS Commissioner John B. Mattingly said that steps had already been taken to make sure such a breach would not be repeated. The ACS Assistant Commissioner for Payments will now have final say on all emergency monetary requests of foster parents. A cross-check on eligibility will now occur outside of the payment unit, and ACS will conduct random audits of the claims throughout the year.

Mr. Mattingly said in a June 15 statement, "It's very important to note that ACS did discover this theft of monies intended for our dedicated foster parents. As soon as we got an indication that something was wrong, we immediately turned all of our information over to the Department of Investigation. We want to thank [DOI] Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn and her staff for their thorough investigation."

Ms. Hearn said that "any scheme to fraudulently obtain ACS payments, whether for a sham foster-care parent or for sham benefits, will be vigorously prosecuted. Such actions victimize the children ACS is there to help."

Charles Ensley, president of Ms. McCoy's union, did not return calls seeking comment.

Ms. McCoy was arrested June 12 and released on $100,000 bail. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the theft charge, and 10 years and a $250,000 fine for the mail fraud.