Undercover investigation leads to Franklin County social worker's leave
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 10:39 AM
By Catherine Candisky
The Columbus Dispatch

A Franklin County social worker was put on administrative leave after a video suggested that she raised no objections when a man seeking Medicaid benefits told her he was a drug dealer with an expensive car and 12-year-old sister working as a prostitute.

The video was part of an undercover investigation by Project Veritas that shows two men pretending to be Russian drug dealers meeting with workers in several county human services' offices in Ohio.

"In this time of economic uncertainty, the American people deserve to know how their tax dollars are being wasted," said James O'Keefe, a filmmaker and investigative journalist who founded Project Veritas. "This is hardly an isolated incident. Government workers willing to aid people with criminal backgrounds and great wealth should be an outrage to every American."

State and county Medicaid officials said the video was alarming.

"We don't condone helping someone falsely apply for benefits," said Lance Porter, spokesman for the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services.

The agency placed Traci Daniels, a clerical worker, on paid leave pending an investigation into the video. It shows her giving assurances to a man with a thick accent who makes wild assertions about illegal drug dealing and prostitution that he should qualify for assistance.

Another employee shown in the video no longer works for the county agency.

Porter said the man was asking questions of Daniels while waiting to see a caseworker who was to help with his application for benefits.

In addition to the investigation, Porter said agency workers will undergo training about handling situations where criminal activity may be suspected.