Inspector General's Probe Prompts Conviction at Manhattan Psychiatric Center

• by New York State Inspector General

ALBANY, NY (09/23/2009)(readMedia)-- An investigation by New York State Inspector General Joseph Fisch led to the conviction of Manhattan Psychiatric Center Plant Superintendent Robert Billings for taking $8,079 in unearned overtime pay.

Billings, 51, of Staten Island, made full restitution to the state as part of his guilty plea to petit larceny on September 15 after he was prosecuted by the New York County District Attorney's office. Billings also faces disciplinary action by the state Office of Mental Health (OMH).

"This is an insult to the thousands of honest and dedicated state employees who work hard and earn their salaries," Inspector General Joseph Fisch said.

The Inspector General found that Billings falsely claimed more than 300 hours by habitually arriving late and leaving before his shift ended. Although Billings claimed he got to work at 7 a.m., E-ZPass records revealed that he routinely crossed the Triborough Bridge after 8 a.m.

Billings also put in for overtime hours that he never worked, thereby doubling his annual salary.

The Inspector General also found that OMH failed to properly oversee capital projects, letting Billings control his own overtime reporting and those of other maintenance supervisors. The Inspector General's report recommends that the Manhattan Psychiatric Center end its exclusive reliance on overtime to complete maintenance projects.

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