Utica Nursing Home Aide Faces Nine-Count Felony Indictment
Schneiderman: Nursing Home Patients Must Be Protected
SYRACUSE -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit filed a nine-count indictment charging John Tamba, 48, of Utica, a certified nurse’s aide formerly employed at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Utica, with three counts each of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Vulnerable Elderly Person or an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the Second Degree, and Wilful Violation of Health Laws. If convicted, Tamba faces up to 21 years in prison.
“Those who are charged with protecting the health of the most vulnerable New Yorkers must do that – care for them and not hurt them,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will go after those who break the law and seek justice for those who cannot defend themselves.”
The indictment alleges that on May 21, Tamba engaged in forcible sexual contact with a female resident of the facility who is physically disabled. The nursing home is located at 1445 Kemble Street in Utica.
Tamba, who was arrested yesterday, was arraigned today before the Honorable Michael Dwyer in Oneida County Court. He was ordered remanded without bail to the Oneida County Jail.
The charges against Tamba are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by Special Investigator Keith Hall, with assistance from Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Rochester Regional Chief Investigator William Falk.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Regional Director Ralph D. Tortora III of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s (MFCU) Syracuse Regional Office. Catherine Wagner is Chief of Criminal Investigations-Upstate. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Acting MFCU Director Amy Held. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.