A Rome man who worked as an aide at a state youth detention center has been charged with workers compensation fraud.

The New York State Inspector General's Office say 45-year old Samuel Spina allegedly played in a competitive hockey league while claiming a debilitating injury prevented him from working.

Spina is accused of receiving more than $3,000 in improper benefit payments from September 2015 to January 2016.

Spina was a Youth Division Aide at the State's Taberg Residential Center for Girls.

The Inspector General says Spina reported a knee injury that prevented him for working in September 2015, but in the weeks and months following the reported injury, Spina was seen playing goalie in numerous games for an amateur hockey team in Central New York.

Spina is charged with grand larceny, insurance fraud and offering a false instrument for filing, all felonies.

He was arraigned in Rome City Court and released pending his next court appearance on November 8th.

 

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