New York State Acting Welfare Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott and Queens
District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced the arrest of a Queens man who was
charged with defrauding federal, state and city government agencies of more than $581,000
in welfare benefits from 1994 to 2013. He allegedly did so by impersonating his twin brother,
who died in 1962 shortly after his birth.
“This is an outrageous theft of benefits, moneys that are intended for those truly in need,”
said Inspector General Scott. “The defendant is charged with stealing more than a half
million dollars in welfare benefits; utilizing an intricate plot to ensure a constant cash flow of
government benefits he was not entitled to, and by assuming a false identity for nearly two
decades. As a result of my investigation, together with our partners in law enforcement, this
fraud was uncovered and the defendant brought to justice.”
Thomas Murphy, 52, of Queens is charged in one complaint with two counts of second-
degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree welfare fraud, one count of first degree
identity theft, two counts of first-degree falsifying business records and two counts of first-
degree offering a false instrument for filing. In a second complaint he is charged with one
count each of first-and second-degree falsifying business records, first-degree offering a
false instrument for filing and one count of making a punishable false written statement. If
convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison on the first complaint and four years in prison on
the second complaint.
Queens District Attorney Brown said: “The defendant is accused of concocting a brazen
scheme in which he stole the identity of his twin brother – who died shortly after birth – to
illegally divert more than half a million dollars in welfare money to pay for his housing,
food, medical expenses for nearly 20 years – even during the last eight years when he was
employed as a New York City Sanitation worker..”
According to Inspector General Scott, Murphy allegedly committed this theft by using his
deceased twin brother Robert’s social security number. Murphy started using his brother’s
social security number in October 1994, when he applied for social service benefits in his
brother’s name. Murphy continued to impersonate his brother for more than 18 years, and
collected these benefits through to November 2013.
Compiled by Forum staff
