
September 16, 2010 - Staten Island, NY - After 20 years of fraudulently claiming Social Security disability benefits, Antonio Ferrara, 62, has been caught and punished.
SILive.com reports the Staten Island man had been collecting Social Security disability benefits to the tune of $362,511, claiming he could not work at the Falconia Service Station he owned with his brother. In January 1988 he filed for Social Security disability benefits along with his brother and transferred the ownership to his wife.
Ferrara continued to collect his Social Security disability benefits through January 2008 when the Social Security Administration (SSA) became suspicious. An investigation found men receiving disability benefits while their wives claimed to perform physically demanding jobs.
The investigation led SSA administrators to find that Ferrara - not his wife - was operating the service station, a direct violation of his receipt of Social Security disability benefits. He was charged with benefit-payment fraud in 2009 and pleaded guilty to that charge in November.
Now Ferrara has received sentencing in his case, which concluded in Brooklyn federal court. His punishment includes 6 months of house arrest, 5 years of probation, and a $300,000 fine, along with 100 hours of community service. His avoidance of jail time was related to previous repayments of the benefits he had fraudulently obtained.
Contacting a New York Disability Lawyer
Avoid unintentional Social Security disability fraud by hiring an experienced New York disability lawyer to help you file your benefits claim. Your lawyer can review your claim and insure that your claim is valid and truthful before sending it to the Social Security Administration.
Before you hire a New York disability lawyer, order this free consumer's guide: 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Filing a Social Security Disability Claim, to give you an idea of the Social Security disability claims process.
Contact a New York disability lawyer at Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola for more information about your case - 1-800-976-4904.
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