ALBANY – District Attorney P. David Soares Friday announced that Antonia Novello, 64, of FL, a former state health commissioner, pled guilty to one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a felony.

Between January 31, 2004 and December 25, 2006, Novello defrauded New York State by using her state driver for personal use, and not claiming the dollar amount of the benefit as required by all state employees.

In accordance with the plea agreement, Novello must serve 250 hours of community service at Koinonia Primary Care, a healthcare clinic in Albany, and  pay $22,500 in restitution and a $5,000 fine when sentenced August 14, 2009.