The operator of a Suffolk County carpentry business was arrested for defrauding the New York State Insurance Fund by allegedly failing to disclose payroll and nearly $1 million in sales for his business.
Stephen Schiavoni, 48, a resident of Southampton, New York, was arrested last week by detectives from the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota for violating the workers’ compensation law and fraudulent practices, a felony. An investigation carried out by NYSIF’s Division of Confidential Investigations revealed that Schiavoni had not disclosed the actual payroll for his business and had concealed from NYSIF premium auditors over $900,000 in receipts from another contractor who is also a NYSIF policyholder. The audit covered the period from March, 2006 to March, 2007.
As a result it is alleged that Schiavoni defrauded NYSIF of $44,000 in workers’ compensation insurance premiums. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Suffolk County Court. The New York State Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau and the Workers’ Compensation Board Inspector General assisted in the investigation.

MADD New York Applauds Senate Passage of Ignition Interlock Bill Interlock Bill

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New York hailed the Senate passage of Senate Bill 27B requiring interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers as Senate Bill 27B passed the Senate unanimously. “MADD applauds the leadership and dedicated efforts of Senator Fuschillo, Senator Dilan and the entire Senate to advance lifesaving ignition interlock legislation S27B. The state of New York is one step closer to enacting effective technology for convicted drunk drivers that is proven to save lives and prevent injuries,” said Jim Nicholas, a victim and volunteer with MADD New York.
Ignition interlocks have been shown to reduce repeat offenses on average by 64 percent. S27B was referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee where the legislation’s companion bill A7196A currently resides. In the New York State Assembly, 77 of the 150 members are co or multi sponsors of S27B companion bill A7196A.
“MADD New York calls on the Assembly to take up this effective anti drunk driving measure in the next special session. There is an abundance of support for passage of this lifesaving legislation as over half of the State Assembly have already signed on as supporters of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers,” said Michele Fonda of MADD New York. In New York in 2007, 384 people died in drunk driving related crashes and there was 9,840 alcohol related traffic crashes accounting for 7,175 injuries. Since, 1998, over 4,000 people in New York have been killed in drunk driving crashes.