Target 12 Preview: 'Fighting Fraud'

(FOX Providence) - It was a Target 12 investigation that rocked an entire state division. In " Fighting Fraud ", Target 12 went undercover, exposing waste inside the Department of Labor and Training.

Four fraud investigators caught by our undercover unit running personal errands and spending R&R on taxpayer time. That investigation aired last fall. Now, there's new fallout from " Fighting Fraud ".

Target 12 Investigator Tim White joined The Rhode Show with a preview of Monday night's findings.

The Rhode Show: What did your investigation uncover?

Tim White: "The state's fraud unit investigates phony disability and unemployment claims for the Department of Labor and Training. They are supposed to look out for your tax dollars. But, for months we followed the entire four member unit, and found them out and about on personal errands or at home for hours on end. We also got our hands on internal itineraries that are supposed to tell their supervisor where they are and when. And on several occasions we found they simply weren't where they told their supervisors they would be."

The Rhode Show: How did their bosses react?

Tim White: "As it turns out the director of the Department of Labor and Training informed us they too had gotten a tip that there was waste inside the fraud unit and they had started their own internal investigation. The four workers were suspended with pay until the outcome of that probe."

The Rhode Show: With pay? Some people hear that and the blood pressure rises.

Tim White: "Sure, we asked Director Powell about that and she explained that there is legal precedent going up to the state supreme court that prevents docking an employees pay until the investigation is completed. Otherwise the would have to go back and not only reinstate all their money but it opens up the agency to expensive lawsuits."

The Rhode Show: So where are these four fraud investigators now?

Tim White: "That's what we get into tonight. Now, six months later, the state is done with their investigation and they've taken action. We'll tell you where each of those workers is now and what has happened inside the Department of Labor and Training ."

Don't miss the Target 12 Investigators' exclusive "Fighting Fraud" Monday night on FOX Providence at 10 and at 11 on WPRI-12 .

On the net:

http://www.wpri.com/generic/target_12/target_12_investigators_fighting_fraud