Rikers Correction Officer From LI Admits Making False Statement: DOI

CORAM, NY — A former New York City Department of Correction officer from Coram pleaded guilty to a charge of making a false statement in connection with a false workers’ compensation claim he made alleging an on-the-job injury at Rikers Island, the state’s Department of Investigation said Tuesday.

Todd Faustin, 43, pleaded guilty to making a false statement related to healthcare matters, and has agreed to pay both restitution and forfeiture, each in the amount of $370,336.79, officials said.

For years, Faustin was employed by the department as a correction officer and was assigned to work at Rikers Island, and during that time, he falsely claimed that he was injured while on duty during incidents with inmates, requiring the use of force, according to the officials.

In total, he received at least $370,336.79 in benefits to which he was not entitled, officials said.

Faustin, who has been employed by the corrections department since December 2011, was suspended in connection with this investigation in May 2025, and submitted his resignation letter to the city, effective March 17, 2026, according to officials.

At the time of his resignation, his annual salary was around $109,350, officials said.

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Justin Alexander Jackson of Manhattan, for comment.

Faustin is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7.

The department began its investigation into Faustin after receiving reports from several City agencies, including the Law Department, about excessive workers’ compensation claims involving correction officers, according to officials.

The agency investigated the matter with the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting this case, and the state’s Inspector General, officials said.

The state Worker’s Compensation Board administers the state’s no-fault workers’ compensation system, which guarantees medical care and cash benefits to people who are injured at work, including employees of the correction system.

Payments by the board made to correction employees are paid from the city’s treasury.

To reduce the risk of future fraud, the agency issued a May 2025 report in connection with this investigation, and recommended reforms to the corrections department and the city’s Law Department’s policies and procedures, officials said.

Acting Commissioner Christopher Ryan noted the city’s workers’ compensation system “exists to support employees who are legitimately injured on the job — not to be exploited for personal gain.”

“Today’s guilty plea holds this DOC officer accountable for abusing a vital system intended to protect City workers,” he said. “I thank the Law Department for referring these concerns to DOI, and for its assistance in this investigation. I also thank the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York and the New York State Inspector General for their continuing commitment to protect these crucial funds.”

State Inspector General Lucy Lang said that “exploitation of the workers’ compensation system – especially for a public servant who has sworn an oath to our community – both corrodes public integrity and siphons critical resources away from the honest workers the system exists to protect.”

“Our two offices will continue to work aggressively with our partners to hold to account anyone who undermines New York’s protections for workers and New Yorkers’ trust in government,” she added.

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