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NEWS from the Office of the New York State Comptroller
Contact: Press Office 518-474-4015

State Comptroller DiNapoli: Former Corrections Officer Used Fake Pay Stubs to Seek $237,000 Mortgage Loan

July 2, 2018

A former New York state corrections officer and his wife were arrested Friday for allegedly giving false pay stubs to "boost" their family income to qualify for mortgage loans from KeyBank and Citizens Bank, according to an investigation by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, the New York State Police and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's Office of Special Investigations (DOCCS).

Justin Marvelli and Jessica Marvelli, both 37, of Ravena, are accused of providing doctored prior DOCCS pay stubs to mislead two banks that Justin Marvelli was still employed by DOCCS, although he'd left his job the year before. The scheme unraveled when the banks contacted DOCCS to verify Marvelli's employment.

"This couple thought they could use a forged state pay stub to trick two banks into giving them a mortgage," said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. "Thanks to my ongoing partnerships with the Department of Corrections, Office of Special Investigations and the New York State Police, their scheme was quickly exposed and they now will be held accountable for their actions. I thank District Attorney Soares for prosecuting this case."

"I am proud of those staff with our Department's Office of Special Investigations (OSI), who worked both internally and hand in hand with the Comptroller's investigators, to assist in this arrest and possible future prosecution of the wrongdoers," said DOCCS Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci. "I commend the men and women of OSI who once again showed that with their skills and partnerships with other state agencies, we will continue to hold those fully accountable for their improper actions."

The Marvellis were arraigned Friday before Bethlehem Town Justice Andrew Kirby and are due back in court on July 17.

Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at [email protected], or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 14th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, N.Y. 12236