Inspector General Finds OMH Boss Linked Promotion to Shady Mortgage Deal

ALBANY, NY (03/10/2010)(readMedia)-- State Inspector General Joseph Fisch found that David Carabello, a top administrator for the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), promised a promotion to an OMH employee if the employee purchased Carabello's New Jersey condominium. Carabello also may have committed mortgage fraud related to the sale.

Carabello, 57, of Warwick, who was Deputy Director for Administration of the Rockland Psychiatric Center, violated state ethics laws and OMH policies by promising better jobs to OMH employees Victor Boissiere and his sister, Sabrina Boissiere, at a time he was urging Victor Boissiere to buy his New Jersey condominium for $330,000, according to the Inspector General's report. Carabello also promised a job for Victor Boissiere's Canadian girlfriend.

The Inspector General uncovered state e-mails from Carabello to Victor Boissiere, a temporary maintenance supervisor who could be terminated at any time. For example, Carabello wrote:

When you get a moment, let's finish our discussion on long-term career direction and professional management job opportunities, including purchasing and living in the condo which is easily accessible to both NYC and Rockland County.

After Victor Boissiere agreed to buy Carabello's condo, Carabello illegally transferred $50,000 through Boissiere's sister to avoid detection, the investigation concluded. In all, Carabello loaned Boissiere $65,000 for a down payment on the North Bergen, N.J., condominium. Because of this illicit transfer and Boissiere's related false declaration on a mortgage document, Carabello and Boissiere may have committed mortgage fraud. Carabello also failed to disclose the loan on his state Financial Disclosure Statements to the Commission on Public Integrity (COPI), a potential violation of state ethics law. The Inspector General referred his report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to COPI for review. Last month, after receiving the Inspector General's report, OMH fired Carabello, a 22-year employee.

In a separate case last year, Victor and Sabrina Boissiere were indicted for alleged bribe taking in a $6,600 bid-rigging scheme on construction projects at the Manhattan Psychiatric Center. Sabrina Boissiere was a general mechanic who was working as an administrator at the psychiatric center. That case is pending in New York County.

###