Ex-corrections officer pleads guilty to fraudulently collecting disability benefits [The Buffalo News, N.Y.]

Mar. 6—A former state corrections officer admitted Wednesday in State Supreme Court that he fraudulently collected worker's compensation and Social Security disability benefits, according to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn.

Flynn said Charles Epps II, 56, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to third-degree insurance fraud and third-degree grand larceny after falsely reporting his employment status and fraudulently collecting the benefits between August 2021 and Nov. 7, 2021, by claiming that an ongoing injury rendered him unable to work.

Epps, who was injured in July 2020 while working as a corrections officer for the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, fraudulently collected $52,542 in benefits while also employed as bus driver.

As part of his plea deal, Epps signed two confessions of judgment to pay full restitution of $35,545 to the New York State Insurance Fund and $16,907 to Social Security Administration.

Flynn commended the State Inspector General's Office and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for their work on the investigation.

Epps, who was released on his own recognizance, faces a maximum of seven years in prison when he is sentenced on May 22.

___

(c)2024 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.)

Visit The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) at www.buffalonews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.