Former DHS Payroll Clerk From Mercer County Indicted on Fraud

A former senior payroll clerk for the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) has been indicted for allegedly using her work computer to generate false insurance cards for four people, including herself, between April of 2009 and December of 2012, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said on Monday.

Laquanda Tate, 38, of Trenton, also allegedly created false documents to claim $8,677 in child care expenses from 2010-2012. By including this money in applications to the Mercer County Board of Social Services for food stamps, Tate allegedly received an additional $3,635 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

She also allegedly claimed such false expenses in applications to the State Department of Community Affairs for Section 8 rental assistance, thereby receiving more than $1,000 in added housing benefits to which she was not entitled.

Finally, it is alleged she used DHS equipment to create a false photo identification that included her photo, but another person’s name. She intended to use the false ID to obtain a notarized letter that the woman had provided childcare services to Tate’s child.

However, she never followed through with that portion of her plan.

Tate was indicted on charges of second degree official misconduct, second degree pattern of official misconduct, second degree false government documents, third degree simulating a motor vehicle insurance identification card, third degree official misconduct, third degree theft by deception, and two counts of fourth degree falsifying or tampering with records.

Tate was fired from her state job after her alleged conduct was discovered in April of 2013, Hoffman said.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

The second-degree official misconduct charges carry a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility of five years, and the third-degree official misconduct charge carries a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility of two years.

Fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The attached image of Laquanda Tate was provided by the Attorney General’s Office