Massive Day Care Fraud And Bribery Scheme Alleged

Federal charges have been brought against 11 defendants for allegedly operating a massive fraud and bribery scheme through which they fraudulently obtained more than $18 million intended to help needy parents with public assistance for day care services at more than 30 day care centers. The defendants also were charged with conspiring to pay and receive more than $100,000 in bribes to facilitate the criminal scheme.  

Four owners of day care service providers in Brooklyn, New York) and seven New York City officials were charged with participating in the scheme.
 
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: "As alleged in the Complaint, the parents of children enrolled in The Congregation's day care centers trusted Liudmila Umarov and her
co-conspirators with the care of their children. But Umarov and her Congregation allegedly betrayed that trust by exposing the children to hazards and siphoning off millions of taxpayer dollars meant to provide safe, quality child care for deserving, hard-working parents. And the New York City officials charged today allegedly betrayed the public's trust, taking bribes to look the other way and grease Umarov's gravy train. If proved, today's allegations demonstrate that the defendants cared far more about their wallets than about the welfare and well-being of the children they were obligated to protect."