Suffolk Man Underreported Income For Over $50G In Medicaid: Prosecutors

EAST NORTHPORT, NY — An East Northport man faces charges he underreported his income and resources to receive over $50,000 in Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for his family, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Tuesday.

Prosecutors say that between Jan. 1, 2018, and Jan. 31, 2020, Otari Bater, 49, was overpaid benefits of about $58,941.65 through Nassau's Department of Social Services and the state's Health Benefits Exchange.

In documentation applying for Medicaid and SNAP benefits, Bater claimed his wife was unemployed and did not have any income, he earned little to no income, and that his family of five paid rent and lived in a home owned by his relatives, prosecutors said.

An investigation by DSS later found that Bater was the president of two businesses and that he drew income as a furniture salesperson and real estate broker, prosecutors said, adding that records show he paid personal expenses from business accounts, including a car loan for a luxury vehicle, and a mortgage for a home in Plainview where his family lived.

The investigation also found Bater and his family never lived with relatives as documented in his paperwork, according to prosecutors.

Donnelly said Bater took advantage of public benefit programs, misrepresented his employment and income status, and denied families in the county "the funds they truly need to survive."

“Committing fraud against these essential programs is not a victimless crime; it has a ripple effect across our most vulnerable populations," she said, adding that her office is "dedicated" to prosecuting fraud cases "and weeding out the bad actors who exploit these programs."

She thanked the Department of Social Services and Office of Investigations, for the partnership and referral of this case for prosecution.

Social Services Commissioner Nancy Nunziata said the agency continues to work cooperatively with the DA "to eliminate public welfare fraud."

“If you try and cheat the system in Nassau County, you will eventually get caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said.

DSS Director of Investigations John Faust said the county "is committed to stamping out waste, fraud, and abuse.”

"We use a combination of sophisticated technology and traditional investigative techniques to detect and prevent fraud and we will continue our vigilance to protect the integrity of the public assistance system," he said.

Bater surrendered to investigators on Tuesday.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree grand larceny and welfare fraud, as well as four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, all felonies.

Bater is due back in court on Jan. 12.

If convicted, he faces a potential maximum of five years to 15 years in prison.

His attorney, Brian Davis of Garden City, told Newsday that he and his client hope to resolve the case "favorably for both sides."

Davis said Bater has been cooperating with the investigation since 2018 and started making small monthly payments in 2019, adding, "We hope that is taken into account."