The New Rochelle Thimblerig — Part XXIII

DUBLIN, IRELAND (January 12, 2025) — My reporting over the course of 2024 was focused on public sector corruption in Westchester County, which includes the transfer of large sums of taxpayer money to questionable entities, primarily for the purpose of events and workforce development.

I did not set out looking into Workers Compensation Board (“WCB”) fraud, but rather stumbled upon it in a few cases. I am told by sources in City Hall that there are hundreds of instances of WCB fraud; that it was routine. I cannot speak to that at this time, but today I made a FOIL for “All CE-200s filed with the City of New Rochelle between 1/1/2021 to Present.”

I reported all that follows to the New York State Inspector General’s Office. The IG has confirmed to me that based on the information I provided to them they are moving forward with an investigation of New Rochelle and any applicant requesting a license, permit or contract who submitted a fraudulent CE-200 and the City of New Rochelle for knowingly accepting a fraudulent CE-200. The IG’s Office told me that while they investigate WCB fraud, they work with other agencies to prosecute these matters, in this case the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.