Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and NYC Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber today announced that an Administration for Children’s Services employee at Horizon Juvenile Center has been indicted on Grand Larceny charges for stealing $6,600 by lying about his work hours.
District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly lied in his timesheets and was paid for nine full shifts and numerous other hours that he did not work, totaling $6,600. City employees are entrusted with serving the public honestly. The defendant allegedly did the opposite and has now been indicted for his fraudulent actions.”
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “This ACS community coordinator, as charged, falsely overstated his hours worked at the Horizon Juvenile Center, where his job was to deliver commissary items to the residents and track behavioral issues. By claiming to work when he wasn’t, including for nine full shifts and even overtime, he not only failed to meet his responsibilities to Horizon residents, he stole funds from the City, according to the Indictment. I thank ACS for referring this case to DOI and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its commitment to protecting City funds from this kind of corruption and fraud.”
District Attorney Clark said Michael Derico, 44, of the Bronx was indicted on third-degree Grand Larceny, fourth-degree Grand Larceny, nine counts of first-degree Falsifying Business Records, and nine counts of first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Hornstein. The defendant is due back in court on September 7, 2023.
According to the investigation, between December 2020 and March 2021, the defendant, an ACS Community Coordinator, either allegedly failed to appear at the facility, arrived at the facility later than his time sheet indicated, or departed earlier than his time sheet showed. Derico allegedly falsified his timesheets to make it appear as if he was at work for not only his scheduled time but also for overtime hours. The defendant was paid approximately $6,600 from New York City for nine shifts and numerous other hours he did not work.
District Attorney Clark also thanked DOI Deputy Inspector General Harlyn Griffenberg for assistance in the investigation, under the supervision of Senior Inspector General Laura Millendorf, Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Ryan and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
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