Child Protective Aide Arrested For Past Lie

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

A former Child Protective Specialist was charged with lying about her immigration status on her city application form in August 2001 and was arrested last week, even though she became a U.S. citizen in June 2007.

ROSE GILL HEARN: 'She betrayed standard.'

Analee Villanueva resigned March 11 and if convicted could face up to seven years in prison.

Phony S.S. Number

The Department of Investigation began the investigation after receiving a complaint in January from the Office of Payroll Administration indicating that Ms. Villanueva was never issued the Social Security number that appeared in her personnel file.

The former city employee submitted a false Social Security number to the Administration of Children's Services when she applied in 2001, according to the criminal complaint. After checking with the Federal Social Security Administration, DOI investigators discovered that the Social Security number Ms. Villanueva submitted was invalid and that she allegedly also used a fraudulent resident alien card. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that the resident alien card Ms. Villanueva submitted belongs to someone else, according to DOI investigators.

"Intentionally fabricating information on city employment documents is a crime," DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said in a statement. "The charges against this individual are troubling not only because she is accused of misrepresenting her citizenship but also because she betrayed the standard the city expects of those who work with children and families in need."

Ms. Villanueva, 37, has been charged with felony counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, forgery and falsifying business records.