Rikers Guard Milked $370K in Fake Injury Claims

⏱ 3 min read

Todd Faustin, 43, a disgraced ex-correction officer at Rikers Island, admitted today to faking injuries during encounters with inmates to bleed the New York State Workers’ Compensation system for at least $370,336.79. The scheme spanned years and was exposed in federal court, where Faustin pled guilty to one count of making false statements. He officially resigned from the Department of Correction, effective March 17, 2026.

Prosecutors say Faustin systematically filed false claims after each use-of-force incident, repeatedly alleging injuries he never sustained. Each bogus report triggered medical payments and cash benefits funded by New York City taxpayers. It wasn’t a one-time grab; it was a calculated, sustained effort to line his pockets at the expense of the system and honest officers.

US Attorney Jay Clayton didn’t mince words, branding Faustin’s actions a straight-up “fraud” and a betrayal of the dedicated correction officers who actually put their bodies on the line. The no-fault Workers’ Compensation system was his target, and he exploited it relentlessly, racking up the massive payout.

Faustin, who had been with the DOC for years, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman. Now, he’s looking at up to five years in federal prison. The feds are sending a clear message: abusing the system, especially when you’re sworn to serve, carries serious consequences. Sentencing is still pending.