Doctor Employed by FDNY at World Trade Center Monitoring Clinics Charged with Stealing $156,757 in Unearned Salary

Earlier today, a complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Michael Poyin Chang, a medical doctor, with engaging in a scheme to steal wages in connection with his employment by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) at World Trade Center Monitoring Clinics in Orange County, New York, and Queens, New York.  Dr. Chang was arrested today and is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Mark G. Peters, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the arrest.

“Dr. Chang allegedly stole taxpayer money designated for the medical care of FDNY first responders who put their lives and health at risk in order to save others endangered by the World Trade Center terrorist attack,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “This Office will continue to root out fraud such as this, to ensure that these funds are spent on addressing the health needs of those who answered the call without hesitation on 9/11.” 

“Physicians take an oath to do no harm, but this Fire Department physician violated that code by collecting more than $150,000 in public funds for nearly a year's worth of work he didn't perform, according to the charges,” stated DOI Commissioner Peters.  “Instead of providing care to FDNY first responders involved in World Trade Center rescue and recovery efforts, this defendant allegedly manipulated City timekeeping records, including taking undocumented vacation days.  Stealing time is fraud, and DOI will continue to pursue City employees who alter these payroll records for their own personal gain.”

According to the complaint, from June 2010 through December 16, 2016, Dr. Chang was a part-time employee of the FDNY.  Dr. Chang’s duties included performing physical examinations of active FDNY members and retirees, as well as follow-up treatments including the prescribing of medication to patients.  Dr. Chang was paid based upon the entries he made reporting his work hours in the CityTime electronic database.  Dr. Chang falsely represented that he had worked 81 days between January 2011 and October 2016, when he was scheduled to be on vacation and the World Trade Center Orange County Annex was closed.  Dr. Chang’s travel records, obtained from the United States Customs and Border Protection Service, show that he was travelling outside the United States on at least 34 of those 81 days.  Dr. Chang reported via CityTime that he had worked an additional 220 days when his prearranged work schedules maintained by the FDNY Deputy Chief Medical Officer showed that he was neither scheduled to work nor see patients.  In total, Dr. Chang received $156,757 for work that he did not perform.  The World Trade Center Monitoring Clinic and its annexes were partially funded by the federal Center for Disease Control in each of the years Dr. Chang was employed by the FDNY.

The charges in the complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Dr. Chang faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael H. Warren is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

MICHAEL POYIN CHANG
Age:  59
Residence: Paramus, New Jersey

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-MJ-470