Inspector General’s Probe Sparks Arrest of Food Stamp Auditor

ALBANY, NY (03/25/2008)(readMedia)-- New York State Inspector General Kristine Hamann and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Michael J. Garcia announced the arrest today of a New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) employee on charges of making false statements related to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Stamp Program (USDA).

Oland Saltes, 54, of Manhattan, falsely reported that he made home visits to food stamp recipients to verify their eligibility from December 2005 to October 2006, an investigation by the Inspector General found. Saltes submitted the reports and travel vouchers for trips to homes in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Sullivan counties.

As an Audit and Quality Control Management Specialist, Saltes was responsible for USDA-mandated audits of the food stamp recipients. A review of 26 recipients revealed 15 who stated they never received a visit from Saltes, the Inspector General found.

“Home audits are essential to the integrity of the Food Stamp Program,” Inspector General Kristine Hamann said.

The Inspector General will release a full public report on the Saltes case shortly, Hamann said.

Saltes, an OTDA employee since 1990, earns $57,367. He was charged with one count of making false statements within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the U.S. government. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to U.S. Attorney Michael J. Garcia.

The Food Stamp Program gives USDA-funded subsidies to low-income families to purchase food. OTDA monitors the food stamp distribution in New York.

For more information from the New York State Inspector General’s office contact Kate Gurnett at 518-474-1010. For more information from the U.S. Attorney’s office contact Yusill Scribner at 212-637-2600.

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