District Attorney takes control of Fraud Investigation team By Dan Hust - staff writer Legislators unanimously agreed to shift and expand the Fraud Investigative Team (FIT) from the Dept. of Family Services (DFS) to the District Attorneys Office. The move only affects Chief Fraud Investigator Gerard Dietz currently. “I probably see more of him than Randy [Parker, Family Services commissioner,] does right now,” DA Jim Farrell told legislators. Dietz will be under Farrells authority and be given the power to arrest, not just investigate. Hell also be joined by two investigators and an assistant district attorney, all dedicated to addressing the pending 800 cases of suspected fraud. Roughly 84 percent of the funding for these new full-time positions will come from state and federal reimbursements, while the remaining cost – estimated to be around $45,000 – will be paid through an unfilled position in the DFS budget line, not the DAs. The move is being made because of the amount of investigations and arrests Dietz and DFS staff (aided by local police) have had to undertake. “I dont think we were anticipating making 50 arrests in six months,” Parker told legislators. “These cases are complicated and time-consuming.” Legislator Cora Edwards said the high number of investigations and arrests indicated the fraud is systemic and widespread. “I think its critically important we have a coordinated approach,” added Farrell, who said these kinds of “white-collar” crimes end up ignored without adequate staff to investigate. “If you really want to attack this problem ... we need to have dedicated folks.” And another thing ... District Attorney Jim Farrell also successfully pitched legislators on adding a DA-overseen investigator to the countys Family Violence Response Team. Though the numbers associated with child abuse in Sullivan County rose by 20 percent in 2013, Farrell said staffing shortages at area police departments have decimated the team and affected its ability to respond and investigate promptly. “We dont need the death of another four-year-old to wake us up to that fact,” he told legislators, referring to the brutal death of toddler Christopher Gardner more than a decade ago. Health and Family Services Commissioner Randy Parker said the new position – 80 percent of the salary of which would be reimbursed by the state and feds – would also cut down on the number of traumatic interviews abused children have to endure during investigations. Gieger lone ‘no on casinos In a series of votes Thursday, Legislator Cindy Gieger repeatedly voted against casino-related resolutions, including one to throw official Legislature support behind two casinos for Sullivan County. Referring to herself as a “voice of caution,” Gieger wanted potential casinos impacts on highways, crime, schools and taxes better known before agreeing to their presence. “I feel answers to the questions need priority, lest we lose sight of our responsibility with regard to county spending, incurring debt and adopting a county budget,” she explained, worried that gamblings impacts may outweigh the revenues. “We must not allow ourselves to become distracted and miss the opportunity to lead wisely.” The Legislatures resolution of support for two casinos (not specific to any particular project) nevertheless passed 8-1, as did another resolution to give $25,000 to the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development to hire Capacity Consulting to conduct a “strategic analysis” to “highlight ways in which Sullivan County would meet the objectives” in the states criteria for siting casinos.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:09:09 +0000
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