United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Christopher Ryan, announced that Leah Mathieu, a correction officer with the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) and a Sailor in the United States Navy Reserve and New York Naval Militia, pled guilty to defrauding the DOC by falsely claiming tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay. MATHIEU pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.
“As admitted, Leah Mathieu used forged documents to collect tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay she had not earned,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “That money came from New Yorkers’ pockets. New Yorkers expect those who serve them to follow the rules on all pay—regular wages, overtime, leave pay, etc.—and when there is cheating, New Yorkers want justice.”
“Falsifying military leave to obtain City pay is a crime and undermines the service members who rightfully earn those benefits,” said DOI Acting Commissioner Christopher Ryan. “As charged, this Correction Officer betrayed the trust granted in her by the City and the New York State Naval Militia. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their continued partnership and commitment to protect City funds.”
According to the allegations in the Information:
MATHIEU is a correction officer employed by the DOC and a member of the United States Navy Reserve. MATHIEU repeatedly made false representations and provided forged documentation, including purported military orders, to the DOC falsely claiming that she was on state active duty with the New York Naval Militia and therefore entitled to leave from her employment with the DOC. Based on MATHIEU’s false representations and forged documentation, MATHIEU fraudulently obtained military leave pay from the DOC from December 2022 through March 2024, totaling approximately $80,297.90.
MATHIEU, 34, of Freeport, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. MATHIEU will be sentenced by Judge Buchwald on August 27, 2026.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of DOI, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the New York State Department of Military and Naval Affairs, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection – New York Field Office, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
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