Man faked retardation for benefits

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

TACOMA, Wash. - For nearly 20 years — ever since Pete Costello was 8 — his mother has collected disability benefits on his behalf. In meetings with Social Security officials and psychologists, he appeared mentally retarded and unable to communicate. His mother insisted he couldn’t read or write, shower, take care of himself or drive a car.

But now prosecutors say it was all a huge fraud, and they have video of Costello contesting a traffic ticket to prove it.

“He’s like any other person trying to get out of a traffic ticket,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Barbosa said Tuesday.

Pete and Rosie Marie Costello were indicted in September on charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and Social Security fraud, and the case was unsealed Tuesday. The Vancouver pair were scheduled to appear in federal court in Tacoma on Tuesday.

Barbosa said he planned to file with the court two videos of Pete Costello taken this year: In one, he allegedly feigns retardation during an interview with Social Security workers; the other is of him contesting the traffic ticket in a courtroom earlier this year.

Confident they can prove fraud

The indictment accuses Costello of faking — or at least exaggerating — retardation since August 1997, because that is what prosecutors are confident they can prove, Barbosa said. But the pair first received benefits 10 years before that.

The benefits cited in the indictment totaled $111,000.

Barbosa said the government does not know whether Costello is retarded to some degree, but he clearly has been “exaggerating whatever he may have, if any.”

“This person isn’t being honest with the government about his condition,” Barbosa said. “It makes it impossible to sort out.”

It was not immediately known if the Costellos had obtained attorneys.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16062879/

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

dayum.

Daniel

:energetic:

[Fandango 1,439]

There was an episode of 'Just Shoot Me' ages ago where Elliot's bro did the same thing to get out of going to work everyday.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

he can always go into politics.

[Nizzy 1]

There was an episode of 'Just Shoot Me' ages ago where Elliot's bro did the same thing to get out of going to work everyday.

I saw that episode twice!

[Canuck Carrie 1]

I hope they have to pay it all back, with interest, and are forced to stand at the busiest intersections wearing sandwich board signs that read "I lied and scammed you taxpayers".

[de_sjiem 0]

That's crazy.. he must be a good actor!

But seriously.. If he only got $111,000, then they dont give out very much per year.. sad to think that's all others who really need it get...

[Mary Lou 681]

It takes all kinds sheesh.......

[Aymerlu 3]

Governement money hard at work. It's sad, my sons autisic and I have never been able to get any assistance for him and I'm a poor girl

[SoL. 0]

It's just amazing how people dare to fool the government all the time and those that really need help get nothing...

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Governement money hard at work. It's sad, my sons autisic and I have never been able to get any assistance for him and I'm a poor girl

It's our money they waste. The government doesn't make any.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmm...Deja Vu anyone? Not just illegals reaping unfair benefits. Our own people are reaping unfair benefits.

[Heracles 417]

Governement money hard at work. It's sad, my sons autisic and I have never been able to get any assistance for him and I'm a poor girl

Your obviously white otherwise I am sure you would have received ample benefits..

TACOMA, Wash. - For nearly 20 years — ever since Pete Costello was 8 — his mother has collected disability benefits on his behalf. In meetings with Social Security officials and psychologists, he appeared mentally retarded and unable to communicate. His mother insisted he couldn’t read or write, shower, take care of himself or drive a car.

I cannot stand people abusing the system, at the expense of those who need it.

I would love to run into people like that. Then they would genuinely need to apply for these benefits..

Edited May 1, 2007 by Infidel

[almaty 19]

It's just amazing how people dare to fool the government all the time and those that really need help get nothing...

not hard to do...regarding SSI, which he was on..get a psych to write a report..go to court...you always be turn down the 1st time..appeal it and usually the 2nd time is the charm..if need be, can get a lwayer to take 1/3 of the back pay owed..as the ticker starts running the day you apply, to represent you...easy, seen it done many times..had several clients get on it.