A former New York City correction officer was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in federal prison after admitting he falsely claimed that he suffered injuries on the job to collect more than $370,000 in workers' compensation benefits, federal and city officials announced.
Todd Faustin pleaded guilty in March to making a false statement related to healthcare matters. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman also sentenced him to one year of supervised release and ordered him to pay $370,336.79 in restitution and the same amount in forfeiture.
According to prosecutors, Faustin alleged he was injured during use-of-force incidents involving incarcerated people while working as a correction officer on Rikers Island. The fraudulent claims resulted in at least $370,336.79 in workers' compensation benefits paid through New York State's Workers' Compensation Board, with the costs ultimately borne by the New York City treasury.
"This defendant betrayed his position of trust as a City Correction Officer by falsely claiming injuries he did not suffer to fraudulently obtain workers' compensation benefits," DOI commissioner Nadia Shihata said in a statement. "Thankfully, he is no longer employed by the City Department of Correction and, in addition to prison time, as part of his sentence must repay the City funds he illegally obtained."
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