State Tax Worker, LI Woman Indicted For Falsifying Records: DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Baldwin woman was indicted for allegedly defrauding the state's Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF).

Sabine Alexis, 46, was arraigned on Friday on the 19 counts that include grand larceny and corrupting the government.

While working for the agency, Alexis is accused of submitting sick leave documentation for a medical issue and collecting a salary, while engaging in full-time employment as a social worker at a non-profit, the office of the Nassau County District Attorney said.

"For more than five years, this defendant financed a career change by allegedly falsifying timesheets, certifying she was working as a tax compliance agent and collecting a salary, while in reality, using business hours to run a daycare operation from her home, complete several social work internships, and take classes towards two separate degrees," Acting DA Joyce Smith said in a statement. "Further, during NCDA’s investigation, the defendant began taking extended sick leave from DTF with half-pay, while allegedly brazenly working full-time as a social worker for a non-profit, collecting two salaries at DTF and taxpayers’ expense."

According to the indictment, between December 2019 and April 2020, the defendant, working as a Tax Compliance Agent for DTF, allegedly submitted paperwork, including "Request for Sick Leave at Half Pay" documents, representing that she was unable to work due to a medical condition. DTF allows employees to collect a sick leave "half-pay" salary while on extended medical leave.

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said: "As public servants, we must uphold the trust of all New Yorkers and never tolerate those who abuse their positions with the Tax Department. Deceiving the state and its citizens by misrepresenting hours worked and misusing sick leave is a gross violation of public trust that unfairly tarnishes the integrity of all hardworking state employees."

In a separate earlier scheme, between August 2013 and July 2019, Alexis is accused of submitted falsified timesheets, travel reports, taxpayer logs, and various other documents stating that she was working regular business hours for DTF and completing field work for the agency, when in fact she was engaged in other activities, the DA's office said.

The investigation determined that Alexis’ timesheets and travel records submitted to DTF conflicted with evidence, including documentation from the placements and GPS data, showing Alexis was operating a daycare facility, attending college courses, or at social work field placements at the times she claimed to be working for DTF.