Tristan23
12-05-2007, 06:20 PM
There are some REALLY strange people out there. Especially the mother, training her children like that. All i can say is WTF?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Jail-for-US-man-who-faked-retardation/2007/05/12/1178899155062.html
Jail for US man who faked retardation
A man in the US was sentenced to 13 months in prison for pretending to be mentally retarded in order to claim disability benefits.
Pete J Costello, 28, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to defraud the US government and Social Security.
He began receiving disability benefits from Social Security, which pays a pension to the retired and disabled, when he was eight. He was ordered to repay the $US59,226 ($A72,000) he has received since turning 18.
Costello, who cannot read or write, dictated a letter to his public defender that was submitted to the judge before Friday's sentencing and filed in court.
"I know that it was wrong to 'act like a child' in the Social Security office when that is not how I really am," the letter said. "I feel very bad about this and want to do everything I can to pay this money back."
Costello's mother, Rosie Costello, 46, who also pleaded guilty, is to be sentenced on Thursday for coaching her son and daughter to feign mental retardation. Authorities have not found the daughter.
Pete Costello continued to fake retardation into his mid-20s - picking at his face, slouching and appearing uncommunicative in meetings with Social Security officials.
The scheme came to light last year after he got a traffic ticket in Vancouver, then was videotaped acting normally when he contested the ticket in court.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Jail-for-US-man-who-faked-retardation/2007/05/12/1178899155062.html
Jail for US man who faked retardation
A man in the US was sentenced to 13 months in prison for pretending to be mentally retarded in order to claim disability benefits.
Pete J Costello, 28, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to defraud the US government and Social Security.
He began receiving disability benefits from Social Security, which pays a pension to the retired and disabled, when he was eight. He was ordered to repay the $US59,226 ($A72,000) he has received since turning 18.
Costello, who cannot read or write, dictated a letter to his public defender that was submitted to the judge before Friday's sentencing and filed in court.
"I know that it was wrong to 'act like a child' in the Social Security office when that is not how I really am," the letter said. "I feel very bad about this and want to do everything I can to pay this money back."
Costello's mother, Rosie Costello, 46, who also pleaded guilty, is to be sentenced on Thursday for coaching her son and daughter to feign mental retardation. Authorities have not found the daughter.
Pete Costello continued to fake retardation into his mid-20s - picking at his face, slouching and appearing uncommunicative in meetings with Social Security officials.
The scheme came to light last year after he got a traffic ticket in Vancouver, then was videotaped acting normally when he contested the ticket in court.