3 former Rikers Island prison guards plead guilty to sick-leave scam
Three former New York City correction officers, Eduardo Trinidad, Steven Cange, and Monica Coaxum, pleaded guilty to fraud in federal court on Tuesday for collecting their salaries while they had taken sick leave even though they were able to work, and submitted fake medical notes to support their claims.
“The defendants have admitted stealing taxpayer funds by collecting their full salaries while falsely claiming they were too sick to work,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
“Sick leave abuse is a plague on the New York City Department of Correction that puts fellow officers and inmates at risk during the ongoing staffing crisis in the jails,” Peace said. “This office is working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to identify those who exploit the sick leave policy and hold them accountable.”
Eduardo Trinidad, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to fraudulently obtaining over $119,000 in salary from June 2021 to Oct. 2022. He claimed that he was unable to work due to an injury, but surveillance footage showed him performing physical activities without assistance. Trinidad performed home improvement work, went bowling, and traveled abroad during his supposed sick leave period. When sentenced, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.