Employee Received Pay for 12 Years without Showing Up

WAVY news station reports that city officials said the now former employee of the Norfolk Community Services Board is female and was paid $25,000 to $40,000 a year, plus received full benefits. The board, which provides mental health and substance abuse help for low-income residents of Norfolk, is funded by taxpayers.  

Executive director of the agency, Maureen Womack, refused to talk to reporters but provided a written statement saying, “The City Attorney’s Office, with the approval of Womack, took appropriate steps to prevent any further payments to the employee and the employee was terminated.” The City Attorney’s office is investigating the situation and will soon turn the case over to Norfolk Police and the Commonwealth’s Attorney to decide whether the employee, or any other employees or supervisors at the agency, will be charged with a crime, according to the news report.  

City Attorney Bernard Pishko told WAVY that he has spoken with the employee and she “offered virtually no explanation” for why or how she has been receiving and cashing paychecks all these years without performing any work. He said it is possible the employee will be required to repay some or all of the money.