PRESS RELEASE: State Fraud Enforcement Official LYNWOOD PATRICK Arrested, Charged with Wire Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office
May 06, 2015

District of Connecticut
(203) 821-3700

State Fraud Enforcement Official Arrested, Charged with Wire Fraud

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LYNWOOD PATRICK, JR., 39, of East Hartford, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud in connection with his submission of a fraudulent application for a personal mortgage modification.

PATRICK was arrested this morning at his residence. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford and was released on a $150,000 bond.

According to the criminal complaint, PATRICK is employed as the Director of Investigations for the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services, Office of Quality Assurance.

The complaint alleges that, from approximately November 2012 through May 2013, PATRICK applied for a mortgage modification under the Making Home Affordable program, a federal initiative designed to assist homeowners who have experienced a decline in income access secure loans at lower rates. When applying for mortgage relief through JP Morgan Chase, PATRICK fabricated State of Connecticut paystubs and lied about his assets in order qualify for the program. Specifically, PATRICK claimed total assets of $500 in one checking account to show that he had experienced a loss of income causing a hardship when, in fact, he had thousands of dollars spread out over multiple accounts at several institutions and his rate of pay had not diminished.

In his capacity as the Director of Investigations, PATRICK is responsible for coordinating and conducting activities to prevent, detect and investigate fraud, waste, abuse and overpayments in the Connecticut Medicaid, Care4Kids, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance and Connecticut Energy Assistance Programs. PATRICK’s salary is partially paid for by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The criminal complaint charges PATRICK with wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force, which includes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Mattei.

Citizens are encouraged to report to corruption to the Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).