Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrest of a former worker of a City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) contractor for allegedly defrauding two HRA clients who were seeking assistance from HRA’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) of $2,650. DOI’s investigation was prompted by HRA’s report of potential misconduct involving the HEAP program. DOI worked in partnership with the Office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, which is prosecuting this matter.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “The City’s Human Resources Administration provides critical services to New Yorkers, often at times of crisis. But instead of rendering assistance, this defendant, as charged, shamelessly deceived and stole from at-risk New Yorkers while pretending to assist. I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney for his commitment to hold accountable those who seek to exploit vulnerable New Yorkers and I thank the Department of Social Services Commissioner, who also oversees HRA, for his cooperation in this investigation.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s alleged scheme targeted and victimized vulnerable and needy New Yorkers seeking assistance. We will now seek to hold her accountable. I thank the DOI Commissioner and her staff for their work on this matter.”
Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins said, “The Human Resources Administration is committed to serving our clients with integrity and honesty. We hold our staff to the highest ethical standards and do not tolerate any violation of the public trust that is fundamental to the vital work of serving and supporting New Yorkers in need. On behalf of my agency, I would like to thank the Brooklyn DA and the Department of Investigation for their thorough and comprehensive probe into this matter and taking action against this bad actor.”
KENDRA CHRISTIE, 25, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a former contract employee with an HRA contractor on the HEAP program, was arrested and charged late yesterday, Thursday, June 23, 2022, with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, both class E felonies; and one count of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, two counts of Official Misconduct, and 12 counts of Petit Larceny, all class A misdemeanors. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison and a class A misdemeanor by up to a year’s incarceration. CHRISTIE was arraigned on Friday, June 24, 2022 in Brooklyn Criminal Court and released with some supervision requirements.
CHRISTIE worked for IOS Staffing Services, an HRA contractor tasked with providing temporary personnel services. CHRISTIE was employed for the seasonal period of September 4, 2018 through April 26, 2019 and was paid a total of approximately $15,599
According to the criminal complaint and the investigation, CHRISTIE worked as a seasonal HEAP employee in Brooklyn, N.Y. from September 4, 2018 until April 26, 2019. CHRISTIE’S duties and responsibilities included, among other things, interviewing clients to assist in determining whether they were eligible for HEAP benefits, assisting in completing HEAP applications, and entering HEAP applicants’ information into the HEAP system database. In connection with this role, CHRISTIE had access to HEAP recipient bank account information and other confidential client information.
On February 13, 2019, CHRISTIE was assigned to assist an HRA Client who was applying for HEAP benefits to subsidize payment of his National Grid and Con Edison utility bills. CHRISTIE informed the HRA Client that he was not eligible for HEAP assistance and told the HRA Client that if he did not promptly pay her $200 to $300, his gas meter would be removed. CHRISTIE then offered to facilitate an installment payment plan on his behalf under the false premise that CHRISTIE would use those funds to pay off the HRA Client’s utility bills. CHRISTIE did not have permission or authority to make such a representation and did not have permission or authority to accept any payments from the HRA Client for this purpose. Believing that CHRISTIE had such authority, on February 13, 2019, the HRA Client provided CHRISTIE with $150 in cash. The HRA Client made six additional payments to CHRISTIE based on her representations that she was using the money to facilitate payment of his utility bills. In total, between February 13, 2019 and May 1, 2019, the HRA Client paid CHRISTIE $900 and on an unknown date paid CHRISTIE $200, for a total of $1,100.
Instead of paying the HRA Client’s utility bills with the money the HRA Client provided CHRISTIE, the defendant accessed the bank account of another Brooklyn-based HEAP Recipient. Between February 13, 2019 and April 26, 2019, taking funds from the HEAP Recipient’s bank account, and paying a total of $1,300 on the HRA Client’s National Grid and Con Edison accounts. On February 25, 2019, CHRISTIE transferred $250 from the same HEAP Recipient’s bank account to pay her boyfriend’s Con Edison bill. CHRISTIE did not have authorization or permission to take these funds from the Brooklyn-based HEAP Recipient.
Commissioner Strauber thanked Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, and his staff, for their partnership on and prosecution of the case. Commissioner Strauber also thanked Department of Social Services (“DSS”) Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins for his and his staff’s cooperation in this investigation. DSS oversees HRA.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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