Over 100 N.Y.C. workers charged in disability scam

1/7/2014

NEW YORK — A law enforcement official says more than 100 current and former city workers, including dozens of police officers and firefighters, are being charged with faking psychiatric problems in order to get federal disability benefits.

Arrests in the sweeping case began early today. An afternoon news conference is planned at Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.’s office. Arraignments are expected to begin today.

The official says the scam stretched back more than two decades, with the ex-officers and other workers claiming mental health problems so severe that they couldn’t work at all.

The official wasn’t authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.