SHARE

Ex-nypd Detective From Westchester Accused In $1M Disability Scam

A former NYPD detective from Westchester was among three men arrested for their roles in regard to a million dollar disability fraud scam.

Manhattan Federal Court

Manhattan Federal Court

Photo Credit: File

Kenneth Rubero of White Plains was arrested on Wednesday along with former NYPD officer Gerard Scparta and FDNY firefighter Scott Scott Maraio following alleged schemes to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million by lying to the Social Security Administration (SSA), according to federal prosecutors.

While collecting disability benefits, the three worked in various positions and each earned hundreds of thousands of dollars, Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said.

According to the federal complaint, Rubero, who began working with the NYPD in 1985, stopped working at the age of 33 in 1997 due to an alleged claim of disability, when he began receiving benefits, stating that he could not work due to problems with his knees, neck and back, meanwhile allegedly failing to report earnings from employment as required.

Rubero allegedly has been the owner and manager of Baychester Payment Center, LLC, a cash cashing and money services business in the Bronx, since 2008. He also owns Secure Logistics, Inc., a security company, from his White Plains residence.

It is alleged that in the past decade, Rubero has received approximately $360,000 in disability benefits for himself and his child, during which time he earned $720,000 from his other business endeavors.

Each of the men were charged with individual counts of theft of governmental property, making false statements and making false statements in connection with Social Security disability benefits. They face up to two decades in prison if convicted.

“As alleged, these three defendants, all former law enforcement officers, told lie after lie to obtain a total of over one million dollars in disability benefits through fraud,” Berman said in a statement. 

“In doing so, they allegedly took money from truly disabled individuals who are dependent on this important source of public support.  Scparta and Maraio also allegedly concealed their employment and income from the Social Security Administration by hiding behind corporate entities purportedly owned by their wives.”

to follow Daily Voice Mount Pleasant and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE