Corrections captain, 10 officers accused of submitting phony timesheets and stealing nearly $230K in pay
They worked on Rikers Island at the time of the alleged scheme and are each charged with corrupting the government, grand larceny, defrauding the government and official misconduct.
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Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark says a New York City Department of Corrections Captain and 10 corrections officers were arraigned Wednesday on a 93-count indictment for allegedly submitting signed timesheets for hours they did not work. Clark says they racked up nearly $230,000 in pay.
The captain, William Newlin, and the officers were working at the Donald Cranston Judicial Center on Rikers Island at the time of the alleged scheme. They are each charged with corrupting the government, grand larceny, defrauding the government and official misconduct.
From Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023, they each allegedly submitted written, hand-signed timesheets stating they worked regular or overtime hours when they did not work at all, prosecutors say.
"These defendants are accused of submitting fake timesheets resulting in them being paid more than $228,000 that they did not earn,” said Clark. “They are veteran civil servants who abused the public trust."
Newlin allegedly stole the largest amount of pay, totaling over $50,000.
Court documents name the officers as: Raymond Espino, 37, Jason Miller, 44, Raymond Lastra, 55, Odiney Brown, 54, Clifford Compton, 44, Odelle Adams, 54, Jason Catalanotto, 43, Kenyatta Johnson, 59, Katrina Thomas, 45 and Katricia Chandler, 54.
The officers are each accused of stealing various amounts of pay, from $30,000 to $8,000.
"Despite a critical correctional staffing shortage in 2023, as charged, these defendants —a Department of Correction Captain and 10 Correction Officers—submitted handwritten timesheets, claiming over $228,000 in regular and overtime hours they did not work by arriving late, leaving early or engaging in 'no-show' shifts,” said DOI Commissioner Christopher Ryan. “This charged misconduct was billed to the taxpayers and undermines public trust and operational safety.
Newlin and the officers are due back in court on Aug. 4.
