N.Y. Man Guilty in Workers' Comp Scheme

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced the guilty plea of a Rome corrections officer who reportedly attempted to obtain more than $2,000 in workers' compensation benefits by submitting false medical leave forms with the alleged forged signature of a doctor. Robert Centore, 42, of Durhamville, was a corrections officer at Rome’s Mohawk Correctional Facility. He pleaded guilty before Judge John Gannon in Rome City Court to Attempted Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a misdemeanor. As part of the plea, Centore resigned from his position and agreed to not seek employment with any law enforcement agency in New York state. He was under suspension since his arrest Jan. 21. According to the charges, on March 20 and 29 of last year, Centore filed two medical leave forms claiming he was injured on the job and unable to work from Feb. 16 to March 5. The leave forms allegedly had the forged signature of a doctor, who, as uncovered during the investigation, did not diagnose Centore or sign the forms. By filing the forms, Centore sought $2,036.44 in wage replacement benefits through workers' comp insurance that he was not entitled to receive. Centore’s claim was discovered to be untrue before any benefits were paid.