Retired FDNY Firefighter Pleads Guilty in Major Fraud Case

Posted by: Curt Varone June 5, 2014 0

A retired firefighter has pled guilty in a massive social security scam perpetrated by retired members of FDNY and NYPD.

John Colombi pled guilty to a reduce the charge of third-degree grand larceny last month in New York Supreme Court. Colombi was accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $295,000 in Social Security disability benefits.

According to prosecutors, Colombi also agreed to surrender two retirement bank accounts as part of an ongoing civil collections lawsuit to recoup some of the funds wrongfully paid to the perpetrators.

Colombi is one of over 100 former public employees who participated in the fraudulent scheme. They allegedly were coached in how to obtain social security disability payments by pretending to be dysfunctional and having their conditions certified by unscrupulous doctors. Here is a letter from District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance outlining the case following the filing of charges earlier this year.  BH21729317

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

Bridgeport Firefighter Accused of Taking Drugs at Incident Scene

A Bridgeport, Connecticut firefighter is facing charges that he took drugs from the scene of a suspected drug overdose last month. Harold Clarke Jr. has been charged with tampering with evidence and interfering with a police officer.

NY Chief Challenges Removal

The fire chief of the Wading River Fire District who was removed by the district’s Board of Fire Commissioners last November, has filed suit alleging a violation of his statutory and constitutional due process rights. Fire Chief Kevin Berg was initially suspended and then removed as fire chief, all without notice of the reason for these actions, or an opportunity to respond.