Attorney General James announces felony guilty plea of Long Island Man for fraudulently obtaining disability benefits
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New York Attorney Normal Letitia James now introduced the guilty plea of Anthony Ragusa, 52, previously of Huntington, NY, for fraudulently amassing far more than $200,000 in disability added benefits from the Social Safety Administration (SSA). The Office environment of the Legal professional Common (OAG) charged that from 2013 to 2020, Ragusa falsely represented to the New York Condition Office environment of Momentary and Incapacity Guidance (OTDA) that he was not able to operate and carry out each day things to do as a result of accidents prompted by a 2013 slide. Even though gathering disability rewards and purportedly disabled, Ragusa was nevertheless the president and proprietor of WhiteStar Limousine — where by he continued to generate money — and an avid weightlifter, as revealed in numerous social media photos and movies of him lifting heavy weights on the web.
“Disability gains are a very important requirement for the New Yorkers who depend on people methods to help them live their lives,” said Legal professional General James. “Anthony Ragusa swindled taxpayers by proclaiming the gains for himself, but was caught in his fraudulent plan when his spouse posted bodybuilding images of him on line. His unlawful and shameful steps are an insult to those people who really reside with disabilities, and I will normally just take action to deliver fraudsters like Ragusa to justice on behalf of the men and women.”
“For a number of years, Mr. Ragusa feigned his incapacity to fraudulently attain around $200,000 in Social Security gains, while controlling his limousine business and a bodybuilding marketing campaign. His admission retains him accountable for his deception and theft,” said Inspector Standard for the Social Stability Administration Gail S. Ennis. “This guilty plea is a product of the collaborative endeavours of our Cooperative Incapacity Investigations Program, in which we perform jointly with point out, regional, and law enforcement organizations to fight fraud in our incapacity systems. I thank each and every company for their investigative endeavours and the Business of the Legal professional Typical for prosecuting this situation.”
Ragusa pled responsible nowadays right before Condition Supreme Court Decide Anthony Senft Jr. in Suffolk County Court to a single rely of Grand Larceny in the Next Degree, a course C felony, in violation of Penal Regulation §155.40. The defendant will be paying out $200,000 in restitution to SSA and will be on probation for 5 many years. If the defendant fails to full his restitution on the sentencing day, he will deal with one particular to 3 yrs of incarceration.
According to OAG’s filings and statements produced by prosecutors, Ragusa utilized for incapacity benefits in 2013. On his software, Ragusa represented that his accidents from a slide as an electrician ended up so critical that he had issue bending in excess of to put on footwear, strolling for far more than 15 minutes, and sitting down for far more than 30 minutes. Ragusa also said that the pain from his accidents prevented him from operating in any capability.
In depth movie and photographic proof from Ragusa’s wife’s Instagram account confirmed that, beginning in 2017, Ragusa commenced a physical transformation into a bodybuilder. On the Instagram account, Ragusa could be observed lifting significant weights and instruction for bodybuilding competitions, generally at Bev Francis health club, recognized as “The Mecca” for bodybuilders. Furthermore, OAG investigators reviewed paperwork from the state Division of Transportation and minutes from a city listening to in 2012 to display that, at the time of his tumble, Ragusa was the president and operator of the WhiteStar Limousine company in New Hyde Park, NY.
From January 2015 to 2020, in hearings and published experiences to figure out his disability eligibility, Ragusa preserved his eligibility irrespective of continuing to operate a business and raise weights.
The OAG needs to thank OTDA and SSA for their guidance in this matter. The OAG also needs to thank Distinctive Agent in Charge of SSA OIG New York Field Division Sharon MacDermott and Specific Agent Gilberto Camilo for major the investigation.
The circumstance was investigated for OAG by Investigator William Fitzgerald, under the route of Detective Supervisor Mike Leahy of the Significant Investigations Device. The Investigations Bureau is led by Main Investigator Oliver Pu-Folkes. Deputy Main Auditor Sandy Bizzaro, under the route of Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri, offered forensic assessment all through this investigation.
Assistant Attorney Common Russell Satin is handling the prosecution in this subject, underneath the supervision of Community Integrity Bureau Main Gerard Murphy, with aid by Legal Aid Analyst Grace Koh. Both the Investigations Bureau and the Public Integrity Bureau are section of the Division for Prison Justice. The Division for Prison Justice is led by Main Deputy Attorney Common Jose Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney Basic Jennifer Levy.
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