Forty two state employees are out of their jobs after a state investigation into fraud surrounding funds for low-income victims of Tropical Storm Irene.
Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement on Monday that the investigation into possible fraud committed by state employees who applied for the Federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has led to 27 dismissals and five resignations, in addition to 10 people who opted to retire rather than going forward with an administrative hearing.
These individuals could face criminal charges.
D-SNAP funding was available to low-income state residents who incurred disaster-related expenses from Tropical Storm Irene, including loss of income, temporary shelter costs and property repairs.
“When we announced this investigation, we said that allegations of fraud by state employees would not be tolerated,” Malloy said. “While this is certainly not something anyone should take joy in, the people of Connecticut should know we are serious about running a government that honestly serves them.”
The state Department of Social Services has identified an additional 240 applications form state employees and the Office of Labor Relations will review them.
Of the 23,000 applications for aid, 1,053, applicants were state employees, Malloy said. One hundred twenty eight have been forwarded to agency heads for administrative review and 685 employees have been cleared of wrong doing.
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“We will continue with this investigation until we have taken appropriate action against any employee that knowingly defrauded this federal program,” Malloy said.
Richard Rochlin, an attorney who said he represents 17 of the state workers, claimed his clients got bad advice from the state workers who handled their applications for federal food benefits following the storm.
