Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced that a former New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) Eligibility Specialist has been charged with taking the personal identifying information of a client to apply for and fraudulently receive more than $27,000 in unemployment benefits between June and November 2020. DOI began its investigation after HRA reported allegations to DOI, based in part on social media posts, that the defendant was engaged in unemployment benefit fraud. The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is prosecuting the case.
ANALDA ROBERTSON, 38, of New York, N.Y. has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Identity Theft in the First Degree, both class D felonies. Upon conviction, a class D felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison. ROBERTSON was arrested on April 23, 2025 and provided a Desk Appearance Ticket to be arraigned today. She was released on her own recognizance and her next court date is scheduled on June 16, 2025.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “HRA Eligibility Specialists have an obligation to protect the personal information of the New Yorkers they serve. Instead, this defendant, as charged, exploited both her position and the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic to steal the personal identifying information of applicants and to use that information to apply for unemployment benefits. I thank the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their commitment to protecting public funds, and I thank HRA for reporting the allegations that prompted this investigation to DOI.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. said, "City workers are expected to do their jobs with integrity. Instead, while working for the NYC Department of Social Services, Analda Robertson accessed a client's personal identifying information and used it to apply for unauthorized unemployment benefits. Instead of helping the client navigate much-needed services, she used the $27,773 in misbegotten funds for personal expenses. I thank the Department of Investigation for its steadfast collaboration in rooting out fraud and corruption.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. said, "City workers are expected to do their jobs with integrity. Instead, while working for the NYC Department of Social Services, Analda Robertson accessed a client's personal identifying information and used it to apply for unauthorized unemployment benefits. Instead of helping the client navigate much-needed services, she used the $27,773 in misbegotten funds for personal expenses. I thank the Department of Investigation for its steadfast collaboration in rooting out fraud and corruption.” defendant, including auto repairs for a vehicle owned by the defendant and food delivered to “Analda Robertson” and to an address where the defendant was observed.
ROBERTSON began working at HRA in February 2014 and at the time of her resignation in March 2022, was receiving an annual salary of approximately $44,710.
Commissioner Strauber thanked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and his staff, for their partnership on the investigation and prosecution of the case.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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