Patch: 5 NYS Corrections Officers Arrested in Probe into Fraudulent Sick Leave, Workers' Comp Schemes

Jeff Edwards

November 5, 2025

HUDSON VALLEY, NY - Workers at two Hudson Valley prisons have been arrested in a long-running probe of misconduct.

Ulster County DA Emmanuel C. Nneji, NYS Inspector General Lucy Lang, and NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James announced the arrests last Thursday of five current and former NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) employees for separate schemes to defraud DOCCS and NYS's workers' compensation system, resulting in a loss of more than $15,000 to the state.

The arrests came after an 18-month-long investigation conducted by the Offices of the NYS Inspector General into workers' compensation abuses at Ulster and Wallkill Correctional Facilities.

While working as correction officers at Ulster or Wallkill Correctional Facilities, the five either submitted falsified medical documentation describing illness or workplace injuries, or participated in prohibited employment while collecting full salaries under the DOCCS-New York State Correctional Officer and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) workers' compensation contract benefit program, according to investigators.

"Workers' compensation fraud is not a victimless crime," Nneji said. "Every dollar stolen through deceit is a dollar diverted from legitimate injury claims and essential State programs at a time of crisis. The fact that these schemes were perpetuated by sworn public officers, who were entrusted with maintaining the safety and security of New York's correctional facilities and those within them, makes the charged conduct even more egregious. The type of conduct involved here gives a bad name to scrupulous public officers regardless of the amount of benefit received. This collaborative effort demonstrates that those who attempt to cheat the system and the public for personal gain will be held accountable, no matter who they are."

Christine Donovan, 41, of Lake Katrine, worked at the Ulster Correctional Facility. She is accused of submitting two forged out-of-work notes documenting a nonexistent medical visit in February 2023, leading to $5,938.44 in improperly paid workers' compensation benefits, according to prosecutors. Donovan was previously terminated by DOCCS. She was charged with felony third-degree grand larceny, and two counts of felony first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Donovan was arraigned last Wednesday afternoon and released on her own recognizance.

Jeremy LaChance, 42, of Kerhonkson, worked at the Wallkill Correctional Facility. He is accused of submitting 22 forged medical notes supporting sick leave excusing him from work as incapacitated, and one forged medical note supporting family sick leave, excusing him from work to care for a child. LaChance received around $3,021.13 in sick leave payments to which he was not entitled, and was entitled to take other unpaid leave that otherwise would not have been permitted, investigators said. LaChance remains employed by DOCCS. He was charged with felony third-degree grand larceny, and two felony counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. LaChance was arraigned last Wednesday afternoon and was released on his own recognizance.

Ashli Paulino, 36, of Mountain Dale, worked at the Ulster Correctional Facility. She is accused of submitting two forged Documentation for Workers' Compensation Leave (DWCL) forms for nonexistent medical visits in November 2022 and March 2023, leading to $1,719.00 in improperly paid workers' compensation benefits. Paulino previously resigned from DOCCS. She was charged with felony fourth-degree grand larceny, and two felony counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Paulino was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket by the NYSP and will be arraigned at a later date, according to law enforcement.

Brian Porter, 49, of Monticello, worked at the Ulster Correctional Facility. He is accused of submitting one forged Documentation for Workers' Compensation Leave (DWCL) form for a nonexistent medical visit in November 2021, leading to $1,053.74 in improperly paid workers' compensation benefits. Porter was previously terminated by DOCCS. He was charged with felony fourth-degree grand larceny, and felony first-degree false instrument for filing. Porter was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket by the NYSP and will be arraigned at a later date.

Anthony Tacti, 34, of Kerhonkson, worked at the Ulster Correctional Facility. While on leave due to a claimed workplace injury, and receiving full salary benefits directly from DOCCS, he is accused of claiming 100 percent disability and an inability to work to his physician despite working for much of that leave as a home health aide through the NYS CDPAP program. Upon returning to work at DOCCS, he continued working for CDPAP, billing for overlapping hours with his state employment, according to investigators. Tacti is accused of receiving over $4,700 in improper CDPAP wages and $4,281 in fraudulent workers' compensation benefits, prosecutors said. Tacti remains employed by DOCCS. He was charged with two felony counts of third-degree grand larceny, felony fraudulent practices, felony third-degree insurance fraud, and felony health care fraud. Tacti was arraigned last Wednesday afternoon and released on his own recognizance.

"Law enforcement officers are held to the highest standards of integrity," James said. "Those who choose to defraud the system undermine the trust placed in all public servants. The State Police will continue to work with our partners to ensure that those who abuse their positions for personal gain are identified and held accountable."

The Ulster County District Attorney thanked "his team for their work on this case, including ADA Karin Intermill who took these cases head-on from the first day she joined our Office, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at SP Ellenville for their great assistance to ADA Intermill and the IG Investigators, and former ADA Sajaa Ahmed who initially worked on the case with Investigators from the Inspector General's Office."

The Inspector General also thanked "her team for their work on this investigation, including Attorney-In-Charge of Workers' Compensation Fraud Bryan Richmond, Attorney-in-Charge of DOCCS Matters Jonathan Schultz, Investigative Counsel Brandon Riddle, Managing Investigator for DOCCS Matters Jeffrey Haber, Senior Investigators Dale Richter and Jackie Desaultels, Senior Auditor Katherine Rizzo, and Investigator Amy McMullen. Inspector General Lang also offered particular thanks to District Attorney Nneji for his partnership in this prosecution, the State Police for their assistance in effectuating these arrests, as well as the leadership at Ulster Correctional Facility who called attention to the issues within that facility, prompting the investigation leading to these arrests."

"This conduct worsens already severe staffing shortages within New York's correctional facilities, undermines rehabilitation programming, and jeopardizes the safety of both staff and the incarcerated population," Lang said. "As our prior reporting about rampant abuse of the Workers' Compensation system by DOCCS officers reflects, these crimes both erode trust in government and drain resources that should be dedicated to workers' rights, public safety, and rehabilitation."