Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the arrest of a former New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) worker for falsifying public records in order to cover up her failure to perform required home visits.
According to the complaint, Stephanie Sabouni, 27, of Brooklyn, was employed by ACS as a Child Protective Specialist from October 2005 through June 2007. At the time of the allegations, Sabouni was working in the Educational Neglect Unit of ACS, which handles neglect cases relating to chronic school truancy. When assigned a case alleging neglect, Sabouni was required to visit the child or children at home within 48 hours. Sabouni allegedly failed to make the required visits in several of her assigned cases. To cover her tracks she made false entries into the ACS computer system reflecting that she had made home visits to several families with whom she never actually met.
“Covering up misdeeds by faking official computer records is a serious crime, and this case is even more troubling because it involves allegations that children in need were ignored,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While all public employees have a duty to taxpayers, this individual was responsible for protecting our children and there is nothing more sacred than that. We will continue to hold public employees accountable when they do not live up to their obligations.”
Sabouni is charged with seven counts of Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree (class D felony), which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for each count; seven counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (class E felony), which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison for each count; and one count of Official Misconduct (class A misdemeanor), which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
According to the complaint, Stephanie Sabouni, 27, of Brooklyn, was employed by ACS as a Child Protective Specialist from October 2005 through June 2007. At the time of the allegations, Sabouni was working in the Educational Neglect Unit of ACS, which handles neglect cases relating to chronic school truancy. When assigned a case alleging neglect, Sabouni was required to visit the child or children at home within 48 hours. Sabouni allegedly failed to make the required visits in several of her assigned cases. To cover her tracks she made false entries into the ACS computer system reflecting that she had made home visits to several families with whom she never actually met.
“Covering up misdeeds by faking official computer records is a serious crime, and this case is even more troubling because it involves allegations that children in need were ignored,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While all public employees have a duty to taxpayers, this individual was responsible for protecting our children and there is nothing more sacred than that. We will continue to hold public employees accountable when they do not live up to their obligations.”
Sabouni is charged with seven counts of Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree (class D felony), which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for each count; seven counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (class E felony), which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison for each count; and one count of Official Misconduct (class A misdemeanor), which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
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