April 9, 2007

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  NEWS: NY Trio Misused State Gas Cards

  Three Wyandanch, New York residents attempted to defraud the state of thousands of dollars in gas purchased on government cards, say authorities. With gas in the northeast part of the country hovering around three dollars a gallon, the half-year that Omar Hanley, Sean Marshall, and Taiwana Knight managed to bilk the state has added up to quite a bit of filched gas. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, Hanley and Marshall worked as aides at state group homes for developmentally disabled adults in Dix Hills. Knight was involved in the scheme as Marshall's girlfriend. Taking advantage of taxpayers' funds, the trio used official cards issued to home employees to fill up their own vehicles – and it's been going on since last summer, on the city's tab.
  
  Marshall was nabbed by video surveillance footage at a Huntington Exxon station, where he was recorded fraudulently using a state-issued card 28 times. Hanley appears using the card 11 times, and Knight was recorded using it 3 times. The three were apprehended earlier this week and are facing charges of fourth-degree grand larceny, an E felony that is punishable by up to 4 years in prison. They were being held on arraignment as of the time of the report.
  
  A state audit kicked off the inquiry that uncovered the over $19,000 in fraudulent gas purchases on several cards. Exactly how much the defendants stole is still being investigated at this point, stated Suffolk District Attorney spokesman Bob Clifford. As the investigation is still ongoing, Clifford stated that it's possible that there will be more arrests. It is not known at this time whether other employees were in on the scheme.
  
  
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