October 25, 2005

DILLON ANNOUNCES:

ARREST OF FORMER NURSING HOME NURSE

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced today that the DA’s Special Investigations Bureau has arrested a former A. Holly Patterson Nursing Home practical nurse, Beatrice Goodman, 43 of 1782 Heckscher avenue, Bayshore, for Defrauding Nassau County Workers’ Compensation Benefits Program out of $37,370.

According to Dillon, "Goodman was a licensed practical nurse at A. Holly Patterson Nursing Home, who injured herself while lifting up a patient on April 15, 1993. She subsequently left County employment. From January 1, 2000 thru January 16, 2004 the claimant’s earnings at a health care firm exceeded the maximum allowable amount. She was then requested by the Worker’s Comp. Bureau at a hearing in December of 2004 to submit W-2's and Income Tax Returns. She filed false sworn income questionnaires in 2001 and 2002, for the calendar years 2000 and 2001, with the Nassau County Attorney’s Office and understated her income for both years. The amount of the Worker’s Comp. Fraud is $37,370.00."

Goodman has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison. She will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.

"I would like to thank the Nassau County Attorney’s Office Managing Attorney Peter Reinharz, Howard Mills Superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department, Investigators Frank Hunt and Cindy Licata of the Insurance Frauds Bureau, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Deputy Inspector General Scott Jafer and Investigator David Regazzi, and the Nassau County Office of Information Technology for assisting with the investigation," said Dillon.

"This individual was allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities that contribute to higher insurance premiums for all New Yorkers," said Superintendent of Insurance Howard Mills. "The New York State Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau will continue to work closely with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and we applaud today’s news because fraud is a pervasive crime that requires a sustained, statewide effort to combat."

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.