FRAUD INVESTIGATION

BY TASTERY REED, FRAUD INVESTIGATORSTATE AUDITORS OFFICE: BUREAU OF SPECIAL

INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

BHCC• ATTENDED FROM 2006 TO 2010 WITH A MAJOR IN

CRIMINAL JUSTICE.• PRESIDENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLUB-

DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJORS AND OTHERS ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. • MEMBER OF THE COMMONWEALTH HONORS

PROGRAM AND PHI THETA KAPPA HONORS SOCIETY.

• MEMBER OF THE STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAM WHICH IS A SUPPORTIVE LEARNING

ENVIRONMENT THAT HELPS STUDENTS WITH THEIR ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, AND SOCIAL LIFE. I

HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU GUYS AND GIRLS LOOK INTO IT.

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN

CRIME SCENE

INVESTIGATION•STUDIED CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND FORENSIC SCIENCE.

• PART OF THE CURRICULUM INVOLVED CONDUCTING CRIME SCENE

INVESTIGATIONS , TESTING DIFFERENT SAMPLES, LIKE DNA, DRUG SAMPLES, AND

TAKING FINGERPRINTS.

• CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON HIGH PROFILE CASES LIKE SERIAL KILLER TED BUNDY

AND CASE STUDIES ON SUICIDE DEATH OF ANNIE KELLY.

• AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT IS A PHOTO OF A MOCK CRIME SCENE FOR A FINAL

EXAM.

• PEOPLE LIE; EVIDENCE DOES NOT

BUREAU OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

BUREAU OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

• INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF FRAUDULENT CLAIMS AND WRONGFUL RECEIPT OF PAYMENT OR SERVICES FROM PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN (TAFDC), EMERGENCY AID TO ELDERS, DISABLED AND CHILDREN (EAEDC) AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AS WELL AS MASS HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE.

• I WORK IN THE DTA UNIT IN WHICH A LOT OF CASES I RECEIVE ARE EMPLOYMENT CASES, NON CUSTODIAL PARENT CASES, PERSON LIVING ABOVE MEANS CASES, ETC.

TYPES OF CASES

EMPLOYMENT CASES• SUBJECT IS RECEIVING SNAP OR TAFDC BENEFITS AND ARE REPORTING THAT THEY ARE

NOT EMPLOYED TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE.

• GO THROUGH BEACON DATABASE TO SEE IF SUBJECT REPORTED EMPLOYMENT AND UNEARNED INCOME. DATABASE SHOWS HOW LONG SUBJECT HAS BEEN ON ASSISTANCE, APPLICATIONS SIGNED, NARRATIVE FROM CASE WORKER FROM DTA, AMOUNT OF MONEY HE/SHE IS RECEIVING AS WELL AS HOUSEHOLD SIZE.

• SEND OUT EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATIONS (SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT DATES AND WAGES EARNED)

• UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION OR ANY OTHER UNEARNED INCOME LIKE CHILD SUPPORT.

• WHEN INFORMATION COMES BACK, ITS TIME TO ANALYZE IT TO SEE IF IT FALLS INTO YOUR PERIOD OF ASSISTANCE (DATES OF WHEN SUBJECT WAS ON ASSISTANCE). IF SO, WE CAN COME UP WITH OUR PERIOD OF FRAUD TO CHARGE THE PERSON WITH FRAUD.

NONCUSTODIAL PARENT (NCP)

• SUBJECT IS EMPLOYED AND COSUBJECT IS RESIDING IN THE HOME WITH EARNED INCOME AND NOT REPORTED TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE.

• EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION RECORDS FOR BOTH (SPECIFY ADDRESS NCP USED)

• SCHOOL RECORDS IF ANY CHILDREN IN THE HOME (LOOKING FOR ADDRESS AND EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• LANDLORD LETTER (SEE IF LANDLORD OR PROPERTY OWNER PLACES BOTH IN THE HOME)

• REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLE DATABASE (SHOWS INFO REGARDING LICENSE, ADDRESS, ETC.)

• ELECTION-VOTING INFO (INTERESTED IN WHAT ADDRESS WAS USED WHILE VOTING)

• TAXES (SHOWS INFO WHERE SUBJECT/NCP FILED TAXES FROM, TOTAL EARNINGS MADE, ETC.)

• POSTAL (VERIFY IF SUBJECT/NCP IS RECEIVING MAIL AT SUSPECTED ADDRESS)

• CHILD SUPPORT/UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION RECORDS (HOW MUCH WAS SUBJECT/NCP RECEIVING)

MIRANDA RIGHTS• YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.

• ANYTHING YOU SAY OR DO MAY BE USED AGAINST YOU IN A COURT OF LAW.

• YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SPEAKING TO THE POLICE AND TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY PRESENT DURING QUESTIONING NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

• IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, ONE WILL BE APPOINTED TO YOU AT NO COST BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, IF YOU WISH.

• IF YOU DECIDE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW, WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY PRESENT, YOU WILL STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP ANSWERING AT ANY TIME YOU TALK TO AN ATTORNEY.

• DO YOU UNDERSTAND THESE RIGHTS?

INTERVIEWING• AN INTERVIEW IS A NON-ACCUSATORY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH A SUSPECT,

VICTIM OR WITNESS. THE GOAL OF AN INTERVIEW IS TO GATHER INFORMATION AND MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SUBJECT’S CREDIBILITY.

• AS AN INVESTIGATOR, YOU WANT TO GIVE THE SUBJECT AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK MORE THAN YOU IN ORDER TO GAIN MORE INFORMATION OUT OF HIM OR HER.

• A SUBJECT WILL OFFER MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL INFORMATION IF HE DOES NOT FEEL THREATENED OR INTIMIDATED.

• (GOAL IS TO FIND OUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE…HAVE TO PUT THE VICTIM OR WITNESS AT EASE…INTERVIEWS ARE USUALLY FRIENDLY, LOOSELY STRUCTURED AND NON CONFRONTATIONAL…THE FOCUS HERE IS TO GET THE PERSON TO TELL YOU WHAT OCCURRED IN THE CASE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING)

INTEROGGATION• THE PURPOSE FOR AN INTERROGATION IS TO ELICIT THE TRUTH FROM A PERSON

WHOM THE INVESTIGATOR BELIEVES HAS LIED DURING AN INTERVIEW.

• BUILD RAPPORT BY FINDING THINGS YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH THE SUBJECT BY BEING POLITE AND CREATING A SENSE OF HUMOR.

• MIRANDA RIGHTS STATE THAT PRIOR TO CHARGING A PERSON WITH A CRIME THEY MUST BE READ THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

• (SUSPECTS, THE GOAL HERE IS TO ESTABLISH THE SUSPECT’S GUILT, INTERROGATION IS CONTROLLED AND DIRECT, MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU MUST ADVISE THE SUSPECT OF LEGAL RIGHTS)

THINGS THAT EVIDENCE TELLS US

GATHER/COLLECT• GATHER INFORMATION FROM

BEACON DATABASE TO SEE IF SUBJECT REPORTED

EARNED/UNEARNED INCOME.

• SEND OUT FORMS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

• COLLECT INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS PLACES SUCH AS EMPLOYERS, BUSINESSES ,

BANKS, POSTAL, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

ANALYZE• REVIEW INFORMATION TO CHECK FOR INCONSISTENCIES

IN THE INFORMATION.

• ENSURE EMPLOYMENT DATES FALL INTO PERIOD OF

ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS WAGE INFORMATION.

• IF IT DOES, AND EMPLOYMENT WAS NOT REPORTED AT ANY

TIME, THEN YOU HAVE FRAUD.

RECOMMEND • INVESTIGATIVE REPORT STATING

WHAT THE ALLEGATION WAS, INFORMATION FOUND IN BEACON

DATABASE INCLUDING WHAT PERIOD OF ASSISTANCE WAS.

•SUMMARIZE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM SOURCES THAT YOU

REQUESTED INFORMATION ON.

• RECOMMEND A SANCTION

• COMPUTATION SHEET

QUESTIONS????