ALBANY – A Wappingers Falls man who works for the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities was arrested on Tuesday on charges that he was paid unearned salary and used his government issued credit card for personal expenses including car rentals, a lengthy hotel stay in the Adirondacks, and food. The total thefts amounted to over $4,000.
State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott said Luke Gaga, 29, was charged with grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing, both as felonies, and official misconduct as a misdemeanor.
Scott said Gaga, a direct support assistant with the state office in Dutchess County, used his government credit card and other means between September 2015 and January 2016 to steal $4,069. He also submitted a falsified mileage report to be reimbursed for more than 2,200 vehicle miles on a rental car that was already paid for by the state.
Gaga was arraigned on Tuesday in Albany City Court and released pending further court action.
