In fact, investigators proved that those persons have normal lives. They exemplified with many situations: one of the defendants flew a helicopter, anther play blackjack in Las Vegas, another performed mixed martial arts and many others are happy to participate in various activities with their families. Every accused persons obtained this way nearly $500,000.
“Many participants cynically manufactured claims of mental illness as a result of September 11, dishonoring the first responders who did serve their city at the expense of their own health and safety”, affirmed in a statement Cyrus Vance, Manhattan district attorney. A special agent at the US Social Security Administration, Edward Ryan, described this situation as “a highly organized, a far-reaching criminal enterprise that targeted the Social Security Disability Insurance program.”
