Fern5827
August 18th 04, 02:30 PM
Sheriff charged in foster care scam
AWS
Giovanni Rosso
FUN
Patchogue
American A.W.S.
Woodbury Country Club
By Anthony M. DeStefano
Staff Writer
August 17, 2004, 6:31 PM EDT
A city deputy sheriff and an employee of the Administration for Children's
Services were arrested Tuesday on charges they took part in a tax scam that
exploited the names and Social Security numbers of children in foster care,
officials said.
The deputy sheriff, David Thomas, 39, was arrested by federal agents after a
year-long probe that also involved the city's Department of Investigation.
According to a federal search warrant affidavit unsealed Tuesday, Thomas, in
addition to his job as a deputy city sheriff with the Department of Finance,
ran a tax preparation business on the side.
The identity of the ACS employee who was allegedly feeding Thomas information
on the foster children's identities was not made public pending her arraignment
today.
Confidential informants told federal and city investigators as far back as
April 2003 that an ACS employee was providing a tax preparer with information
that allowed taxpayers to falsely claim earned income tax credit. The credit
can save a person several thousand dollars in federal and state taxes.
According to the affidavit, undercover investigators with the U.S. Postal
Service went to Thomas' home at 220th Street in Springfield Gardens earlier
this month.
Thomas told the undercover agents that adding dependents to a tax return cost
$500 and that "there is a $50 charge for a babysitter," the affidavit said.
Thomas explained that the dependants are from foster homes and that he had a
connection who provided him with their information, the affidavit stated.
Information about the babysitter was apparently used in claims for refundable
child care tax credits, officials said.
The ACS employee was identified as a data entry clerk who has worked for the
agency since October 2000.
It was unclear late Tuesday how many names of foster children had been used in
the alleged scheme. The search warrant affidavit mentioned four cases but a
source said more information might be revealed Wednesday at the ACS employee's
arraignment.
Thomas has been a deputy city sheriff for 11 years, according to a spokesman
for the Brooklyn U.S. attorneys office.
He was released Tuesday after his arraignment on a $250,000 personal
recognizance bond, the spokesman said.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
AWS
Giovanni Rosso
FUN
Patchogue
American A.W.S.
Woodbury Country Club
By Anthony M. DeStefano
Staff Writer
August 17, 2004, 6:31 PM EDT
A city deputy sheriff and an employee of the Administration for Children's
Services were arrested Tuesday on charges they took part in a tax scam that
exploited the names and Social Security numbers of children in foster care,
officials said.
The deputy sheriff, David Thomas, 39, was arrested by federal agents after a
year-long probe that also involved the city's Department of Investigation.
According to a federal search warrant affidavit unsealed Tuesday, Thomas, in
addition to his job as a deputy city sheriff with the Department of Finance,
ran a tax preparation business on the side.
The identity of the ACS employee who was allegedly feeding Thomas information
on the foster children's identities was not made public pending her arraignment
today.
Confidential informants told federal and city investigators as far back as
April 2003 that an ACS employee was providing a tax preparer with information
that allowed taxpayers to falsely claim earned income tax credit. The credit
can save a person several thousand dollars in federal and state taxes.
According to the affidavit, undercover investigators with the U.S. Postal
Service went to Thomas' home at 220th Street in Springfield Gardens earlier
this month.
Thomas told the undercover agents that adding dependents to a tax return cost
$500 and that "there is a $50 charge for a babysitter," the affidavit said.
Thomas explained that the dependants are from foster homes and that he had a
connection who provided him with their information, the affidavit stated.
Information about the babysitter was apparently used in claims for refundable
child care tax credits, officials said.
The ACS employee was identified as a data entry clerk who has worked for the
agency since October 2000.
It was unclear late Tuesday how many names of foster children had been used in
the alleged scheme. The search warrant affidavit mentioned four cases but a
source said more information might be revealed Wednesday at the ACS employee's
arraignment.
Thomas has been a deputy city sheriff for 11 years, according to a spokesman
for the Brooklyn U.S. attorneys office.
He was released Tuesday after his arraignment on a $250,000 personal
recognizance bond, the spokesman said.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.