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Former State Corrections Officer from Lewis County
Sentenced to Probation for Falsifying Medical Notes to Improperly Obtain
Sick Leave Benefits
Published: February 01, 2024
at 01:15 p.m.
By: Press Release from NYS Office of Inspector
General
DOCCS Officer Sentenced After Pleading Guilty To Submitting False Leave Notes For Medical Appointments
That Never Occurred
New York State
Inspector General Lucy Lang announced the sentencing earlier today of
Stephanie Saber, a former New York State correction officer, who submitted
forged medical documentation to improperly obtain sick leave benefits from
the State.
Saber, 29, of
Lewis County, New York, who had previously pled guilty on November 15,
2023, to the felony offense of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in
the First Degree, under Penal Law §175.35, was sentenced in Seneca County
Court by the Hon. Barry Porsch to five years of felony probation. Seneca
County District Attorney John Nabinger appeared on behalf of the People.
The Inspector
General’s Investigation, which was prompted by a referral from the New York
State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), revealed
that Saber, who was employed as a correction officer at Five Points
Correctional Facility in Romulus, NY, had submitted thirteen false medical
notes to justify absences between December 2021 and July 2022. Upon
questioning by OIG investigators, Saber admitted that she had created fake
notes purporting to be from legitimate medical practitioners to excuse
prior absence from work.
Saber was
terminated from DOCCS during the investigation.
“The conduct of
this correction officer abusing sick leave benefits is particularly
egregious because she was in a prime position to know the impact that
shortages in correctional facility staffing pose to the safety of staff and
incarcerated individuals alike," said New York State Inspector
General Lucy Lang. “By forging these notes to justify unwarranted sick
days, she betrayed not only her oath to New York State but her colleagues.”
“This sentencing
sends a clear message that the Department does not tolerate fraudulent
misconduct from staff and will refer any case to the Office of the
Inspector General that defrauds New Yorkers,” said New York State
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner
Daniel F. Martuscello. “As we face critical staffing shortages,
this type of behavior further exacerbates the difficulties of this job and
does a disservice to the hardworking staff who show up day in and day out
to help keep our communities safe. I commend our Office of Special
Investigations for their diligence on this case and thank the Office of the
Inspector General for their partnership.”
Inspector General
Lang thanked the members of her staff responsible for handling this
important matter, including Investigative Counsel Kerry Buske and
Investigator Joel Mercer, under the supervision of Chief Investigator
Martin Stanford and Deputy Inspector General for the Western Regional
Offices Jeffrey Hagen.
Inspector General
Lang also expressed her gratitude to the DOCCS Office of Special
Investigations for their cooperation in conducting the investigation, the
New York State Police for assisting in Saber’s arrest, and District
Attorney Nabinger and his staff for their partnership in the prosecution of
this case.
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