WTEN: 5 Ulster Co. prison guards arrested in fraud investigation

Cassie Abel

October 31, 2025

WALLKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10)- On Thursday, the New York State Police and the State Inspector General's Office announced the arrest of five correction officers in Ulster County. Officials said the arrests stem from an 18-month-long investigation into workers' compensation abuses.

Investigators said the five defendants allegedly submitted false medical documentation or engaged in prohibited employment while collecting salaries at the Ulster and the Wallkill Correctional Facilities. The correction officers were identified as 41-year-old Christine Donovan; 42-year-old Jeremy LaChance; 36-year-old Ashli Paulino; 49-year-old Brian Porter; and 34-year-old Anthony Tacti.

"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," Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji said. "The type of conduct involved here gives a bad name to scrupulous public officers regardless of the amount of benefit received."

Three of the defendants allegedly submitted one or more false "Documentation for Workers' Compensation Leave" (DWCL) forms that were signed by doctors attesting to examinations that never happened. One defendant allegedly told his doctor that he was fully disabled and unable to work because of an alleged workplace eye injury but was reportedly working as a state-funded home health aide and the fifth defendant allegedly submitted over 20 forged sick leave notes over two-years.

The charges and alleged conduct were reported as:

Donovan is accused to have submitted two forged out-of-work notes documenting a false medical visit, resulting in $5,938.44 in improperly paid workers' compensation benefits.

• Third-degree Grand Larceny
• Two counts of First-degree Offering a false instrument for filing

LaChance is accused of submitting 22 forged medical notes excusing him of work as incapacitated and one forged note excusing him from work to take care of a minor. He reportedly received $3,021.13 in sick leave payments.

• Third-degree Grand Larceny
• Two counts of Offering a false instrument for filing

Paulino is accused of submitting two forged DWCL forms documenting a nonexistent doctor's appointment in November 2022 and March 2023, resulting in $1,719 in improperly paid benefits.

• Fourth-degree Grand Larceny
• Two counts of Offering a false instrument for filing

Porter is accused of submitting a forged DWCL form in November 2021, resulting in $1,053.74 in improperly paid benefits.

• Fourth-degree Grand Larceny
• Offering a false instrument for filing

Tacti is accused of claiming a disability and inability to work despite working as a home health aide through the state Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) program. He allegedly continued to work for CDPAP while returning to work as a Correction Officer, reportedly receiving more than $4,700 in improper CDPAP wages and $4,281 in fraudulent workers' compensation benefits.

• Two counts of Third-degree Grand Larceny
• Fraudulent Practices
• Third-degree Insurance Fraud
• Health Care Fraud

According to the Inspector General's Office, Tacti and LaChance remain employed by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Porter and Donovan were terminated, and Paulino resigned.

"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," said Inspector General Lang. "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."

Officials said Donovan, LaChance and Tacti were arraigned and released on their own recognizance. Paulino and Porter were issued desk appearance tickets and will be arraigned at a later date.