A rather silly scam carried out by a pair of New Yorkers to feign blindness, all so they could freeload on public disability benefits, showed a clear lack of foresight. A press release published by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York division, details how a man and a woman conspired together and conducted an elaborate scheme to lead the Social Security Administration (SSA), the New York Workers’ Compensation Board and Travelers Insurance into believing that the male co-conspirator had been made blind by an on-the-job injury.
The pair went to great lengths to make a convincing case for disability-through-blindness. After designating the male scammer to give the performance of a lifetime, his female co-conspirator “guided” him into related medical examinations and hearings, submitted fraudulent documentation, purporting that his newfound blindness inhibited him from carrying out daily tasks without help, and collected public benefits checks on his behalf. (At least they didn’t drag an innocent service animal into their crimes.)
But the government saw right through their antics and launched an investigation. Subsequent video surveillance show the man driving around town and conducting his daily rituals, like hitting the gym and shopping without any assistance. Some of the videos even capture his co-conspirator accompanying, but not guiding, him. (A new take on “seeing, and being seen.”)
The two were hauled before a jury, which found them guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud and theft of government property. The presiding judge sentenced the man to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of probation, and ordered to pay $27,784 in restitution to the SSA. The woman was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $27,784 in restitution to the SSA.
Potential fraudsters beware: Lady Justice wears a blindfold to demonstrate impartiality, not lack of vision. She’ll see right through you.
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