A former state Department of Social Services employee is accused of issuing himself debit cards in the names of clients and using the cards to steal nearly $5,000 in public assistance benefits.
Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney arrested Reinaldo Ruiz, 45, of Glastonbury, on Wednesday and he has been charged with one count of first-degree larceny, four counts of second-degree larceny and five counts of third-degree identity theft, according to the Division of Criminal Justice.
Ruiz worked as an eligibility services worker at the Middletown regional office from October 2010 through October 2013 and DSS filed a complaint in February 2014.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Ruiz used the identities of five DSS clients to issue electronic benefit transfer cards, which he then used to withdraw $4,901 in benefits.
None of the clients whose names the cards were issued in was aware that their identity had been used or that the cards were created in their names, according to the warrant.
Ruiz was released on a written promise to appear in Hartford Superior Court on April 18.
