Title: Health Department Workers Accused of Stealing Thousands in Gift Cards Meant for HIV-Prevention Programs
Subtitle: City Health Department employees facing charges after using taxpayer money for personal expenses
By Matthew Sedacca | September 2, 2023 | 12:26pm
City Health Department workers, who were making six-figure salaries, have been accused of misusing thousands of dollars in gift cards purchased with taxpayer money that were intended for HIV-prevention programs. According to criminal court complaints and the city Department of Investigation, three employees from the agency’s Bureau of hepatitis, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections allegedly stole a total of 131 gift cards worth $4,855 and spent the funds on personal purchases including pizza, iTunes, and Amazon.
The employment status of the workers involved has not been shared by the Health Department. However, two of them were still on the city’s payroll when they were arrested and charged last week. A third employee retired before the agency completed its investigation.
Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, expressed her disappointment, stating, “Resources meant to serve the public, to help prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, were instead used by public servants to line their pockets.” She commended the Department of Investigation and the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their work on the case.
The accused employees responsible for handling and distributing the gift cards were Mahboob Bari Khan, 63, the former director of finance administration, and Lisa Burgess-Thomas, 58, a fiscal analyst. Khan, who retired in 2022 earning $110,754 a year, used $2,200 in stolen gift cards to pay his Time Warner Cable bills and made purchases on Amazon. He also paid for a staff lunch at Lucky’s Pizzeria in Long Island City. Burgess-Thomas, who makes just under $95,000, spent $1,505 in stolen gift cards on shopping sprees at Walmart, Bath and Bodyworks, Amazon, and iTunes. Another colleague, Stephanie Hubbard, 40, an HIV Prevention program planning director earning $127,862 annually, spent $1,150 on Amazon.
The Health Department did not respond to inquiries about how the collected data is utilized by the agency.
Bill Hammond, a senior fellow for health policy at the conservative think tank Empire Center, questioned the security policies at the Health Department. He raised concerns about the lack of surveillance or additional security precautions while handling cash or equivalent items. Health Department Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan emphasized the importance of trust in public health efforts and stated that integrity should not be compromised.
All three workers have been charged with grand larceny and official misconduct. If convicted, they could face up to four years in prison.