A Dallas, Texas, firefighter was arrested Friday after allegedly taking paid leave while lying about testing positive for COVID-19.
William Jordan Carter, 38, has been charged with felony theft of more than $12,000 in public funds, NBC reported.
Carter obtained sick leave on March 24 after informing his bosses that his spouse had COVID-19. He obtained more time off a week later when he said his daughter had contracted the virus. And then two days before he was scheduled to go back to work, Carter claimed he had tested positive for COVID-19, CNN reported.
According to an affidavit, CNN reported that when Deputy Chief Lauren Johnson asked Carter to provide his test results, he told Johnson he never got tested. He then failed to produce documentation of his family’s test results.
Johnson then asked Carter why he made up the false COVID-19 results, to which Carter responded, “Greed, I guess,” the affidavit reads.
“Suspect Carter unlawfully appropriated money, with the intent to deprive the City of Dallas, by intentionally deceiving his chain of command by creating a false impression of fact that affected their judgment in the transaction of approving his payroll coded for COVID-19 leave: thereby committing Theft,” the affidavit reads.
During his time off, bank records show Carter made purchases at Kalahari Resort, a large indoor water park and resort, where he spent close to $1,500 on meals and lodging, CNN reported.
Jason Evans, a spokesman for Dallas Fire-Rescue, confirmed to CNN that an internal investigation is underway while Carter is on paid administrative leave.
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