Indict Temp Worker For Stealing $500G From HHC in Scam

A former temporary worker at the Health and Hospitals Corporation was arrested April 2 for stealing more than $500,000 from the agency in a five-year scheme that involved altered timesheets and forged payment requests.

Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced the charges of grand larceny, forgery, possession of

forged instrument and falsifying business records against Dennis Jones, who worked in the Construction and Maintenance Service department of HHC from 1999 to 2006.

Upgraded Own Hours

Mr. Jones was a laborer in a private company that provides temporary building workers, to HHC to renovate office space and other work areas. Shortly after he started his job, he was given the responsibility over the payroll paperwork for workers in his company.

From October 2001 to January 2006, Mr. Jones allegedly used HHC's timekeeping computer system to alter his timesheets by adding overtime and double-time hours he did not work. He then forged payment request forms by using color copies of his supervisor's signature on the forms.

Announcing the indictment, Mr. Morgenthau thanked Lisa Lee and Yasmin Fernandez of HHC's Inspector General's Office for their assistance in the investigation. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Judy Salwen. Mr. Jones faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. D.S.