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New York cops among 106 accused over 9/11 fraud

L-R: US President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden observe a moment of silence/AFP

L-R: US President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden observe a moment of silence during the 9/11 memorial/AFP

NEW YORK, Jan 7 – Prosecutors indicted 106 people Tuesday, including former New York police officers and firefighters, over a “massive fraud” worth hundreds of millions of dollars, some in connection with the September 11 attacks.

The accused allegedly collected tens of thousands of dollars a year in social security benefits funded by taxpayers by claiming they were completely incapacitated by serious psychiatric disorders and other ailments.

“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,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a statement.

The four main defendants conspired to help or make hundreds of applicants falsely claim disabilities in order to collect benefit payments and public pensions, the indictment and court documents showed.

Prosecutors said the applicants claimed that they suffered from a psychiatric condition that prevented them from working, such as post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression.

“This alleged scam further depleted the already limited resources available for battling the real and complex conditions of PTSD and depression,” Vance said.

“Many” claimed their experience during the 9/11 attacks on the city had caused their psychiatric condition, according to prosecutors.

Of the accused, 80 were retired police officers or firefighters.

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