A Suffolk County woman who illegally collected over $109,000 in workers’ compensation benefits has pleaded guilty and paid full restitution, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced.
Lydia Parise fraudulently received the benefits by continuing to deposit her deceased husband’s workers’ compensation checks from 2018 through 2021. Investigators determined that she signed his name on more than 80 checks and deposited them into her personal accounts, ultimately collecting $109,263.44 in funds she was not entitled to.
Following an investigation by the Offices of the Inspector General (OIG), including the New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General (WCFIG), Parise was charged with multiple offenses, including Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Identity Theft in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree.
On February 21, Parise pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny and was sentenced to one year of probation and community service. As part of her plea deal, she repaid the full amount of stolen funds. Upon successfully completing her sentence, she will be allowed to withdraw her misdemeanor plea and plead guilty to a lower-level violation of Disorderly Conduct.
Inspector General Lang underscored the importance of protecting the integrity of the workers’ compensation system. “Workers’ compensation benefits are a financial lifeline for injured workers and their families, and fraud of this nature jeopardizes the integrity of the system,” she said. “The return of more than $109,000 in stolen funds to the taxpayers of New York State helps protect the financial stability of the Workers’ Compensation System and reinforces our unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who seek to defraud it.”
The investigation was led by Investigative Counsel Erin Gise, along with Investigators Matthew Avellino and Mario Rubino, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Jean Carsey and Attorney-in-Charge for Workers’ Compensation Fraud Bryan Richmond. The case was prosecuted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
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