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.
