A New York bodybuilder was arrested for disability fraud after investigators discovered his wife posted his progress photos on Instagram along with running his business.
RELATED STORIES: Baby Blue On Pleading Guilty In PPP Fraud Case: “I Ain’t Tripping”
50-year-old Anthony Ragusa allegedly collected more than $200,000 in disability benefits while earning income from his business, White Star Limousine. He claimed that he was unable to work or perform daily duties due to an injury and continued with the scam for approximately seven years as reported by Newsweek. In a statement posted by Attorney General, Letitia James said Ragusa was arrested on May 20 and said he cheated the state by wasting taxpaying dollars.
“While cheating the state out of thousands of dollars, Anthony Ragusa was simultaneously running a business and posing for pictures of his bodybuilding on the internet. Fraudulently collecting these benefits was not only a shameful slap in the face to those who actually live with disabilities but a vast waste of taxpayer dollars. My office will not hesitate to pursue those who defraud our system and saddle our state with debt.”
RELATED STORIES: 474 People Charged By Justice Dept. For Stealing $569 Million In COVID-Related Scams
Ragusa was later released on his own recognizance and charged with second-degree grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing.