Renew Call
for Full Forensic Audit of CAA’s across Connecticut
HARTFORD – State Senator Len Fasano (R-North
Haven) and State Representative Vincent Candelora (R-North
Branford) today renewed their call for a full
forensic audit of each of the state’s thirteen
Community Action Agencies amidst the arrests this week
of five people on charges of larceny for allegedly defrauding
a public energy assistance program administered by the
Community Action Agency of New Haven.
“Representative Candelora and I have been warning
for nearly two years that questionable accounting practices
and a general lack of financial controls at CAA of New
Haven would result in people abusing federal fuel assistance
programs at the expense of those most in need,”
said Senator Fasano. “These recent
arrests confirm that our fears have been realized. It
is past time for the state to require that all of its
13 Community Action Agencies submit to full forensic
audits, so that we can determine the extent of these
abuses.”
"In these economic times, it is imperative that
every tax-funded program helps those who truly need
it," said Representative Candelora.
"We have been calling for proper controls for years,
and I hope that these arrests are the beginning of a
process to eliminate fraud and abuse in these state
programs."
Fasano and Candelora first sounded the alarm about
CAA’s improper administration of the in September
of 2007. The legislators called on the Department of
Social Services to conduct an expanded forensic audit
of CAA of New Haven after whistleblowers complained
about the creation of fake Social Security numbers,
questionable accounting practices, and unqualified applicants
receiving fuel assistance funds at the expense of Connecticut
taxpayers and other qualified families in need.
In the months following the legislators’ announcement,
the State of Connecticut opened an investigation into
CAA of New Haven’s billing practices. And in December
of 2007, federal authorities raided CAA of New Haven,
removing large numbers of documents and files as part
of their own investigation.
Fasano and Candelora said this week’s arrests
underscore the need for a full forensic audit of each
of the state’s thirteen Community Action Agencies.
The legislators said that the audits should be paid
for by the CAAs and the results should be submitted
to the chairs and ranking members of the Appropriations
Committee by the end of the fiscal year, June 30th.
The legislators said the forensic audits should cover
the last five years and include a review of all agency
transactions, including: application process from intake
to funding; vendor lists; contract payments; signatory
on checks; oil deliveries; invoicing and related payments.
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