This morning, eighty retired members of the NYPD and FDNY were charged with Social Security disability fraud in a scam dating as far back as 1988 that included up 1,000 people and reportedly cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The New York Times touts it as one of the largest Social Security disability scams ever.
According to the 205-count indictment, participants stolen between $30,000 and $50,000 per year based on false claims that anxiety, depress or post-traumatic stress disorder triggered by the Sep. 11 attacks left them physically unable to perform their assigned duties. It didn't, however, stop them from engaging in rigorous activities including jet skiing, riding motorcycles or acting as martial arts instructors.
The four men accused of orchestrating the scheme—attorney Raymond Lavallee, pension consultant Thomas Hale, retired NYPD officer Joseph Esposito and detectives union official John Hale—have been charged with first and second-degree larceny, as well as attempted second-degree larceny. Another 102 people were charged with second-degree larceny and second-degree attempted larceny.
[via New York Times]
