Police Unmask Local Woman’s ‘Can’t Work’ COVID Scam

While many New Yorkers so desperately wanted to get back to work even during the pandemic, police recently unmasked an inticiate scam that prevented a woman from working. It turns out, a trio of Lake George-area residents were running a quarantine-scheme that kept one area woman out of work, as she lied to her employers about possibly having the coronavirus.

Police say that a Bolton Landing woman created fake documents that suggested she remain home - unable to work - after possibly contracting COVID-19.  Two others, a woman from Lake George and a man from Lake Luzerne, have been popped as well for assisting in the sham.

According to the Daily Gazette, Emily M. LoPiccolo, 42, of Bolton Landing lied to her employers and forged documents to get out of work at Etain Health.

According to their website, Etain Health LLC is "New York's only women-owned medical marijuana dispensary."  It's located in Chestertown, about 80 miles north of Albany.

Also charged according to the Daily Gazette are two others, Judith A. Baker, 31, of Lake George, and Christopher Villamarin, 24, of Lake Luzerne.  They are charged with misdemeanors for assisting in the falsification of documents.

According to the report, they provided LoPiccolo legitimate documents that LoPiccolo was able to replicate and use as a get-out-of-work card.

According to News Channel 13, LoPiccolo ifaces felony charges of forgery and criminal possession of a forged instrument.

According to the Daily Gazette, officials pointed out that she, "falsely create both documents" and forged the signature of the Warren County Health Services director.