Posted on 05/12/2007 5:12:19 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
TACOMA, Wash. — A Vancouver man was sentenced Friday to 13 months in prison for pretending to be mentally retarded in order to claim disability benefits.
Pete J. Costello, 28, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to defraud the government and to Social Security fraud. He began receiving disability benefits when he was 8. He was ordered to repay the $59,226 he has received since turning 18.
Costello, who cannot read or write, dictated a letter to his public defender that was submitted to the judge before sentencing and filed in court.
"I know that it was wrong to 'act like a child' in the Social Security office when that is not how I really am," the letter said. "I feel very bad about this and want to do everything I can to pay this money back."
Costello's mother, Rosie Costello, 46, who also pleaded guilty, is to be sentenced Thursday for coaching her son and daughter to feign mental retardation. Authorities have not found the daughter.
Pete Costello continued to fake retardation into his mid-20s _ picking at his face, slouching and appearing uncommunicative in meetings with Social Security officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Seems to me he should be happy.....he’s still getting to live on the government dime.
Fake tard ping.
” pretending to be mentally retarded in order to claim disability benefits “
Should have used the ‘addict or alcoholic’ claim.
Nancy Pelosi?
A friend who has various illnesses applied for SS disability benefits. He tried for two years and they told him he would have to re-apply.
His Doctor wrote a letter stating the various things wrong with him and ended the scribe with a statement that” Because of the seriousness of his physical disabilities the patient has retarded physical ability and cannot work.”
The genious that worked at SS granted him his disability and stated the reason was that he was retarded.
I asked him what he was going to do about it and he said , “take the check”
Now who was retarded?
Mother should get life in prison. Imagine what kind of a sociopath would prevent her own son from learning to read or write, just so she could collect a retardation paycheck. She must be made a lesson of for all Americans.
I'm guessing that's a fairly small ping list. If it was a "real tard" ping list, you'd be pinging everybody at DU and DailyKos.
Man, I can’t stand “wanna-be” tards.
I always thought that if you did something to get yourself into prison you were pretty retarded.
He faked his disability, but IMO he's a genuine 'tard.
What? No Eric Cartman from South Park pic? The folks on the site this morning are slower than usual.
Someone’s been ripping off Cartman’s MO ping. ;>)
Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot PIE!
Shut-up you r-tard.
Lol. Cartman is what came to mind. We’re not slow, we’re retarded, dammit!
At first I thought this thread was about Dick Durbin, but we all know he’s not faking.
Thanks, Mom.
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