Rikers Island Correction Officer Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Making False Statements To Obtain Worker’s Compensation Benefits Following Use Of Force Incidents

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that TODD FAUSTIN, a former correction officer at Rikers Island, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman for making false statements relating to healthcare matters in connection with use-of-force incidents that took place within Rikers Island. As part of his sentence, FAUSTIN was ordered to pay $370,336.79 in restitution and $370,336.79 in forfeiture.

"Todd Faustin lined his own pockets by exploiting one of the most sensitive interactions in our justice system: the use of physical force against prisoners," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Our justice system relies on correction officers to act safely and honestly while serving in our prisons. Today's sentence demonstrates that when officers abuse the system and undermine New Yorkers' trust, they will be held criminally accountable."

According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court:

The New York State Workers' Compensation Board (the "Board") administers New York 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 New York City Department of Correction ("DOC"). Payments made by the Board to DOC employees are paid from the New York City Treasury. For years, FAUSTIN was employed by the DOC as a correction officer and was assigned to work at Rikers Island. During that time, FAUSTIN falsely claimed that he was injured while on duty at Rikers Island during incidents with incarcerated individuals requiring the use of force. Rather than approaching use-of-force incidents with the gravity and sensitivity that such moments deserve, the defendant actively sought out these incidents and attempted to instigate them to steal money from the workers' compensation system.

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In addition to the prison term, FAUSTIN, 43, of New York, New York, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Office of Inspector General, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office's Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit and the Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution.