Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Hempstead woman and an employee of the Yes We Can Community Center in North Hempstead have been arraigned on charges that they drafted and submitted paperwork to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office falsely claiming that the woman, who had pled guilty to Driving While Intoxicated in 2022, had completed her required community service.
Nocianie Joseph, 33, and Travis Troiano, 33, of Westbury, were indicted and arraigned on charges of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree (a D felony); Offering a False Instrument for Filling in the First Degree (an E felony); and Official Misconduct (an A misdemeanor). The defendants pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. If convicted, they each face a maximum of up to 7 years in prison.
Joseph was arraigned on May 12, 2023, before Judge Howard Sturim and Troiano was arraigned today before Judge Meryl Berkowitz.
Both defendants are due back in court on June 14, 2023.
“Recognizing that Nocianie Joseph was a first-time DWI offender, our office offered the defendant a fair plea contract that would allow her to complete 35 hours of community service and reduce the charge against her. Instead, despite agreeing to the plea, Joseph and her friend Travis Troiano allegedly forged paperwork attempting to get Joseph credit for service she did not complete,” said DA Donnelly. “This indictment sends a strong message that NCDA will rigorously follow up on the satisfaction of plea conditions and take action against those who would deceitfully violate the terms of those good faith agreements.”
DA Donnelly said, according to the charges, on May 17, 2022, Nocianie Joseph was arrested in Nassau County and charged with Driving While Intoxicated. NCDA offered Joseph a conditional plea contract, which she accepted. According to the terms of the agreement, Joseph was required to plead guilty to the top count and complete several conditions of the contract within four months, including 35 hours of community service. If she successfully completed the conditions, Joseph would be permitted to vacate her guilty plea to the misdemeanor and enter a plea to a lesser charge.
It is alleged that on November 20, 2022, Travis Troiano, an employee of the Town of North Hempstead’s Yes We Can Community Center, and a friend of Joseph, drafted and signed a fraudulent letter stating that Joseph had successfully completed the community service at the Yes We Can Center.
The letter was submitted to the NCDA as proof that Joseph had completed the requirement of her plea contract. The letter was also submitted to Joseph’s attorney.
When the NCDA attempted to verify Joseph’s completion of the requirements of her plea agreement, the office discovered that Joseph had never volunteered at the Yes We Can Center and that the letter Troiano submitted was allegedly false. The investigation also revealed that Troiano does not have the authority to draft or sign community service completion letters for the Yes We Can Center.
Joseph was sentenced before Judge Joseph Girardi on the misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated charge on February 24, 2023, after failing the contract. She was sentenced to 60 days incarceration and three years’ probation.
Joseph surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators on May 12, 2023. Troiano surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators today.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Davidman of the NCDA Public Corruption Bureau is prosecuting the case. Joseph is represented by Christopher Graziano, Esq. Troiano is represented by Karen Johnston, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
