Last month, several people including a number of retired New York City police officers and firefighters were arrested as part of a huge investigation into false disability claims. Yesterday, authorities made even more arrests.
According to the New York Post, another 28 suspects were arrested yesterday. Among them were 16 retired NYPD officers, four former members of the FDNY and a New York City Department of Corrections employee.
The initial investigation, launched by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, resulted in over 100 arrests after suspects sought to cash in on disability claims, citing trauma from their experiences on Sep. 11, 2001. Of the arrests, 80 were retired police officers and firefighters.
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton expressed extreme disappointment. "The idea that many of them chose the events of 9/11 to claim as the basis for their disability brings further dishonor to themselves," he said firmly.
The Post adds that prosecutors say suspects claimed $30,000 to $50,000 worth of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for everything from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder that allegedly kept them from working or leaving their homes in the most extreme instances.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance says the amount of money stolen from taxpayers could amount to $400 million.
[via New York Post]
