Marine Corps spouse Sarah Ogasian, a veteran ER nurse and mother, was devastated to discover that New York State had accidentally emptied her family’s savings account—leaving them with virtually nothing.
Master Sgt. Jon Ogasian, stationed in Newburgh but with a legal home of record in New Hampshire, logged into his bank app only to find their account completely drained. The state had executed a tax levy despite federal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA), which are designed to prevent such seizures when military families are domiciled out of state.
New York officials eventually admitted the error and reversed the levy—but required a processing fee before the funds could be returned. Meanwhile, the Ogasian family has struggled to afford basic necessities like school supplies, clothing, and transportation. Sarah Ogasian noted that for the first time, they were forced to shop at secondhand stores.
A tax representative reportedly was unfamiliar with the relevant military protections, prompting concern about systemic gaps in enforcement. Critics, including House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, have called on the state to eliminate the fee and reinforce recognition of federal safeguards for military families.