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OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

MEMORANDUM OF INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY
On May 18, 2016, Supervisor Special Agent (SSA) Jessica Gomez and SSA Eric Marquez, New
Mexico Human Services Department (HSD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), conducted an
interview of
, Income Support Division (ISD) Line Manager. The interview was
AB
conducted at the SE Bernalillo ISD office 1711 Randolph Rd. SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
SSA Gomez and Marquez identified himself to AB verbally and by show of his credentials.
The purpose of the interview being conducted was in connection with an official OIG
investigation into allegations HSD/ISD employees are falsifying information on client
applications which had been deemed eligible for expedited food assistance.
AB was
advised that the interview was being recorded (recording attached hereto).

AB stated she has been a supervisor for approximately four Y2 years. Previously,
she had been with the NMCAP. She has been with HSD almost 11 years (since 2005), all
in the SE Bernalillo office.
AB stated she has never been told to change any information on a client's case in
connection with expedite. She stated she has never seen anyone change a client's
information in regards to expedite. She stated when she started with HSD, she had heard
rumors that other caseworkers did this, but denied ever seeing it herself. She stated to her
understanding, she had heard that workers were entering the information as resources.
She stated this was word of mouth, but couldn't recall anyone specifically.
AB stated she had never been in a meeting where a directive had been given to
change information to avoid late-expedites. She stated she did not recall any
management from Santa Fe directing her or the office during any meetings to insert assets
to avoid late-expedites.
AB stated if a client's case should be expedited, but it is not timely, it would only
delay benefits to the client. She stated that the timeliness is reported to the "feds." She
stated is their office does have late-expedites, their office has to report this to Santa Fe.
She stated they used to do teleconference calls with Santa Fe, but said she couldn't
remember who the calls were made. She stated it used to be the county director and all
the line managers that had to attend these calls, but that it has changed in the last couple
of months. She stated now that only certain supervisors have to attend those calls.

TITLE:

AB

NAME: SSA Jessica Gomez

ACTIVITY DATE: May 18, 2016

CASE NUMBER: 16-PSI-27396

This document contains neither commendations or conclusions ofHSD/OIG. It is the property ofHSD and neither
the document or its contents should be disseminated without prior OIG authorization.
Rev 9.24.15

MEMORANDUM OF INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY

Date: May 18, 2016
Case Number: 16-PSI-27396
cited system limitations with ASPEN as some of the problems with expediting
AB
a client's benefits. She cited examples such as a client is incarcerated, an ineligible
college student and received benefits in another state. She stated in these scenarios, if the
benefits are issued out and then the client is found to be ineligible, ASPEN does not
recognize correctly closing the case, but instead keeps a client on a six month
certification.

AB stated the percentage the state is supposed to meet is 98%. She stated it could
be in the CFR, but she does not know exactly where it is written down, except the SNAP
Performance Reports that are sent out by Quality Control (QC) reports that are emailed to
everyone in ISD. She states she believes if the state does not actually meet 98% that the
federal government may sanction the state, but she isn't sure ifthat has ever happened.
AB stated their office no longer utilizes any spreadsheets outside of ASPEN. She
stated that they now utilize the BI tool (business intelligence tool) to review stats for her
employees. She explained that the BI tool would pull up any task that had been assigned
to a particular worker. She explained that in her office, for the application registration
task, the supervisors are required to review the tasks and make sure they are completed
the same day.
AB stated she has never heard of anyone re-screening a case. She stated there is
the option that is given to a client if they had a pending application previously to
withdraw and refile a new application, but could not remember who told her this.
AB stated since all this began, she had not been directed either singularly or in a
group how to answer questions asked her from OIG.
AB stated no one has ever asked her for her IP address, nor has she asked any of
her workers for their IP address. She stated she had never asked anyone for their
computer name and had never noticed any emails missing for her email.