Inspector General Investigating OCFS Overtime

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ALBANY, NY (01/25/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State Inspector General Ellen N. Biben has expanded her current probe of overtime abuse at the state Office of Children and Family Services to include the recently reported "spike" in youth facility overtime pay, the Inspector General's office announced today.

Biben began an investigation earlier this month after determining that a former youth aide, Lee Ballard, earned overtime pay at the Goshen Secure Residential Center while he was defrauding the state health plan in a $709,000 scheme to obtain narcotics. Ballard was sentenced January 14 in U.S. District Court. Biben noted in her report that time and attendance abuse can indicate more serious problems, including excessive overtime costs.