JCOPE Settles Ethics Violations with Former MTA and DOCCS Employees

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (“Commission”) announced today that it has reached settlement agreements with a former Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) employee and with a former Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (“DOCCS”) employee over violations of the Public Officers Law.

Gudeswar Persaud, an Elevator & Escalator Superintendent at the MTA, did not disclose income he earned over a two-year period from an outside job with an elevator consulting company, a job the MTA had previously instructed him to leave. Persaud admitted violating Public Officers Law §73-a when he did not disclose the outside income on his 2015 financial disclosure statement and did not disclose either the job or the income on his 2016 form.

“The purpose of the financial disclosure statement is to show the public what might be a conflict of interest for a State officer or employee, and this shows why that is necessary,” said Acting Chair Michael K. Rozen. “If you’ve got an outside job, especially one so closely tied to your State work, you have to report it and the money you make from it.”

Persaud has resigned from the MTA and agreed to pay a $4,000 fine and file amended financial disclosure statements. The case was referred to the Commission by the MTA Office of the Inspector General.

Dominick Mauro, a Deputy Superintendent of Administration at Hale Creek Correctional Facility, admitted that in 2016 he took food from the State correctional facility without authorization and also transferred used kitchen equipment from the facility to a private individual. That transfer involved the assistance of DOCCS workers under his supervision.

Mauro has resigned from his job and admitted to violating Public Officers Law §74(3)(h), which provides that a State employee should not pursue a course of conduct that would raise suspicion that he will likely engage in acts that violate the public trust. The case was referred to the Commission by the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations.