Posted on 01/07/2014 3:18:23 PM PST by No One Special
More than 100 retired New York City cops, firefighters and correction officers were charged today with falsely claiming to be suffering from depression and anxiety as a result of the 9/11 terror attacks, New York prosecutors said today.
The alleged scam won awards up to $500,000 for the uniformed personnel and cost taxpayers millions of dollars, according to the indictment.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said the suspects "cynically manufactured claims of mental illness as a result of Sept 11th... dishonoring the first responders."
Police Commissioner William Bratton said, "The retired members of the NYP indicted in this case have disgraced all first responders who perished during the search and rescue efforts on Sept. 11, 2001."
The prosecution backed up its case with recorded phone calls of the suspects being coached on how to behave in front of a medical board and photos of the suspects doing vigorous activity like jet skiing, doing mixed martial arts, and going on cruises after convincing doctors they were unable to leave their homes.
Today's arrests cap a two year investigation, aided by federal investigators, the city's Department of Investigation and the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau.
The alleged fraud cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in improper Social Security benefits.
The indictment charges four men with masterminding the alleged fraud, including attorney Raymond Lavellee, 81, Thomas Hale, 89, Joseph Esposito, 70, and John Minerva, 59.
Hale is president of a firm that determines eligibility for Social Security disability. Esposito is a former NYPD employee and Minerva is an ex-cop who is currently a disability consultant for the Detectives Endowment Association.
None of the accused actually suffered from debilitating stress, officials claim. Many were caught working after retirement, a violation of disability benefits.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I put my life on the line every night.
Here’s what you say in reply: “what’s the evidence for that statement?”
“Policeman/fireman are not even in the top ten most dangerous jobs in the United States. You’re much more likely to be killed if you’re a farmer, a fisherman, or a coal miner.”
That should settle their hash.
I remember reading a few years before Obama became POTUS he was worth $100 million and then when Obama became POTUS Gores net worth skyrocketed to $300 million. You know why? Because Obama was using TAXPAYER money to finance Gores bulls**t green companies and these freakin’ RINOs we got do nothing about it. How many months a year do we work to pay taxes and these pukes are STEALING money you and I bust our butts to make.
One thing about cops, firefighters, teachers etc is they will always b***h and complain about how they are making less than cops, firefighters and teachers in the next county over. Or how since teachers in their county got a 2% raise yearly for the next 4 years, that they deserve 4% yearly raise for the next four years because cops do X more work and it is dangerous
My point being they never compare their compensation to any private sector (AKA the dreaded private sector) compensation. It’s laughable and pathetic at the same time, Gov’t workers live in their own little gov’t worker universe
I noticed the alphabet channel reports tonight at 630 eastern.
No mention at all that union thugs were involved in the fraud. More minimizing the extent of this fraud.
“Im just shocked that its been this long before we finally saw a headline.”
Betcha it’s been waiting for Bloomberg to leave office !
> More than 100 retired New York City cops, firefighters and correction officers were charged today with falsely claiming to be suffering from depression and anxiety as a result of the 9/11 terror attacks, New York prosecutors said today.
Bill deBlasio strikes again. Thanks No One Special.
Wait.
I was told all the Union guys were heroes.
I suppose it's a chicken vs egg situation. The people have continued to vote for this crap on the local and national level. There is no restraint. The 2012 election showed the majority could care less about consequences or who pays....they just want THEIR stuff.
It has gotten to the point that it is too hard to fight any more. It is too disheartening.
Former FReeper BKO has also been off work for simply being on a plane.
RIP Barbara K. Olson
Yep. The people don't seem to give a damn. I still hope 2012 was the exception and not the new norm, but we see McAuluffe win with the same strategy as Obama and it works like a charm. Then we see committed, blatant Marxists lake De Blassio take office and it shows an alarming number are fully accepting of a radical agenda. At least Obama pretends to be something other than that to get the votes he needs. It is sad people can't see through it, but the people giving him victories think he's some sort of moderate problem solver...amazing, but it stands true.
“No mention at all that union thugs were involved in the fraud. More minimizing the extent of this fraud.”
You’re right; there was no mention of that. I couldn’t believe how many of these POSes were wearing their uniforms (remember, they’re not working - was that supposed to generate sympathy?).
9/11 was a gift that keeps on giving for grifters; I’d love to know how many of the “honor guard” people (the ones that battled the mayor to be on hand at the site in case any firemen’s remains were discovered, so they could ceremoniously carry them out) are included in the scammers. The mayor felt they didn’t need to be there considering the risk (due to the air), and they successfully over-ruled him.
“I couldnt believe how many of these POSes were wearing their uniforms”
Probably double dipping ... working elsewhere, collecting taxpayer monies, all while their new superiors knew or know about their past too.
Blue has turn an ugly color, years ago, even decades ago.
Audit everyone of them.
The shame is in the end, the lawyers will escape scot free.
I think the uniforms were to generate sympathy/demonstrate protest.
Some of these lawyers will see prison; they have recordings of coaching and such, and kickbacks can sometimes be traced.
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