Michelle Goodwine was charged with credit card fraud last week.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) staffer was arrested by federal authorities after a joint investigation that involved the State Inspector General, the United States Attorney, and, according to one source, postal authorities.

Goodwine was arrested at the RIOC offices early last week and taken away in handcuffs. She is charged with acquiring credit cards using the social security number and birthdate of another Michelle Goodwine, who lives in Robinson, Illinois, then using those cards to purchase merchandise and services valued over $1,000. Goodwine allegedly ran up charges of $1,060 with Omnipoint for use of two cellular phones.

A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for June 2, 10:00 a.m., in U.S. Magistrate Court.

While the charges are limited, Goodwine's highly public arrest has led to speculation that there is more to the case, or that she may be given an opportunity to reduce her liability by providing evidence against others.

Goodwine was brought to RIOC by Dr. Jerome Blue. He, like Goodwine, had worked at the State Housing Finance Agency. Blue served as President of RIOC for three years until last summer, when the Governor named him head of the State Human Rights Commission. Blue is widely believed to be a protege of former U.S. Senator Al D'Amato. After Blue left RIOC, Goodwine continued there under its new President, Robert H. Ryan.

Ryan issued a brief statement to The WIRE. "Last Fall, certain information came to my attention. That information was passed to the New York State Inspector General's office. An investigation then took place. A few weeks ago, the Inspector General's office contacted the U.S. Attorney's office, and on May 3, the U.S. Attorney took action." Ryan referred all further questions to federal authorities.

According to sources, Goodwine's computer at RIOC was examined by authorities. In the federal complaint, she is alleged to have applied for additional credit lines; it is believed some of that activity may have been carried out on her RIOC computer while she was at work.