FORMER OPWDD WORKER SENTENCED AFTER SPENDING OVER $4,500 IN TAXPAYER FUNDS ON UNAUTHORIZED FUEL PURCHASES

 

New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced the sentencing of Thomas Telesco, a former Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Direct Support Assistant who made over $4,500 in unauthorized charges on his state-issued credit card.

Telesco, 42, of Rome, NY, who had previously pled guilty on February 5, 2024, to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, was sentenced on Tuesday by the Honorable Michael L. Dwyer in Oneida County Court to a term of five years’ probation and ordered to pay full restitution.

Prompted by a referral from OPWDD, the Inspector General’s investigation, which included the review of video surveillance and corresponding receipts, found that after being terminated from OPWDD, Telesco used his state-issued credit card to purchase $4,583.43 in fuel at eight area gas stations for himself and known associates.

“Fraud committed by public servants is inexcusable and is particularly egregious when perpetrated by an employee of an agency dedicated to serving a vulnerable population,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “My office will continue to work diligently to protect New Yorkers and taxpayer funds from fraud and misconduct.”

“OPWDD has no tolerance for the theft of state taxpayer dollars. Following the separation of a former employee from state service, an OPWDD audit of expenditures made by the former employee prompted a referral to the Inspector General’s office for investigation of the misuse of funds. This led to the subsequent indictment of this former employee,” said OPWDD Commissioner Kerri Neifeld. “I applaud the actions of our staff for identifying this criminal activity and for bringing it to the attention of the Inspector General’s office who ensured this case was fully prosecuted.”

Inspector General Lang thanked the members of her staff responsible for conducting this investigation, including Senior Investigator Dale Richter, former investigator Steven Brucker, and Investigative Counsel Gina Wisniewski, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General for the Upstate Regional Office Jim Davis and Chief of Investigations for the Upstate Regional Office Sherry Amarel.

Inspector General Lang also expressed her gratitude to the City of Rome Police Department for their assistance with the investigation, OPWDD for their prompt referral and cooperation, and Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville and his office for their work prosecuting this matter.