NCJ Number
91571
Date Published
Unknown
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Members of the program fraud unit in the Kings County District Attorney's Office (New York) review their investigations into food stamp fraud and other government-funded program abuse, as well as plans to analyze the system of Federal and local funding for urban programs.
Abstract
The special unit has worked with Federal, State, and New York City officials to identify patterns of actual and potential abuse in the food stamp program and to uncover fraudulent activities by city employees and recipients. It has investigated nonprofit contractors who have kept extensive Internal Revenue Service refunds of Social Security deductions instead of returning the city's share. The unit has found that Federal law enforcement agencies have little contact with their New York City counterparts and that city agencies lack information on individuals and organizations who apply for funding. Ideally, a computerized case history system should allow agencies to screen applicants and reject those with past records of fraud or abuse. To address this problem, the program fraud unit is working with the mayor's office to develop a questionnaire that all prospective contractors must complete. The unit plans to apply for a Government grant to analyze the existing program funding system. First, a study stage will determine the number and nature of all programs operated by or through the municipal government which are funded by State or Federal agencies. Second, the unit will select a limited number of programs for investigation where it suspects fraud and mismanagement are widespread, analyzing criteria to evaluate contractors, screening procedures, monitoring, and enforcement methods. Finally, it will report these findings and make corrective recommendations. See also NCJ-91570.