Albany, NY – New York State Inspector General Letizia Tagliafierro recently announced the guilty plea of a Randolph woman who stole $3,065.28 in Workers’ Compensation benefits by forging her late father’s name in order to cash the checks.
Bonnie S. Slater pleaded guilty in Cattaraugus County Court before Hon. Ronald Ploetz to Forgery in the 3rd Degree and Petit Larceny, both misdemeanors. She is scheduled to return to Cattaraugus County Court on November 16, 2020 for sentencing.
The Inspector General’s investigation found that Slater’s father, Alan Slater, passed away in August of 2017. However, Slater obtained, endorsed and then cashed six workers’ compensation benefit checks intended for her father from September through November 2017. All checks were issued in the amount of $510.88 and cashed after his death at a local supermarket. In total, Slater defrauded the workers’ compensation system by stealing $3,065.28 in benefits to which she was not entitled.
“This individual forged her deceased father’s signature to illegally obtain workers’ compensation benefits and she will now be held accountable for her actions,” Inspector General Tagliafierro said. “I thank our law enforcement partners in Cattaraugus County for their work on this matter.”
Inspector General Tagliafierro thanked the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department for their partnership in the investigation and Cattaraugus County District Attorney Lori P. Rieman and her office for prosecuting the matter.
Source: NY Inspector General’s Office