By
06/22/2015 17:39:00
Trenton, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) - Acting Attorney
General John J. Hoffman announced that a former Camden City firefighter
was indicted today by a state grand jury on a charge that he stole more
than $82,000 by fraudulently collecting a disability pension from the
New Jersey Police and Firemen’s Retirement System while working as a
martial arts instructor and participating in competitive mixed martial
arts.
Shane B. Streater, 40, of Camden, was indicted by a state grand jury on a charge of second-degree theft by deception. The Indictment is the result of an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. The matter was referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Board of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS).
In February 2009, Streater applied for an accidental disability pension, asserting that he was disabled as the result of two accidents while on duty: one in December 2007, when a car struck the fire truck he was riding, and a second in March 2008, when his fire truck hit a pothole. In each incident, he claimed to have injured his back and/or neck.
Based largely on statements from Streater regarding his inability to engage in physical activity, an independent doctor found he had a total and permanent disability. The doctor concluded, however, that his disability was from a preexisting condition and not work related.
The PFRS Board awarded Streater an ordinary disability pension on January 9, 2010. Streater appealed to the Office of Administrative Law, insisting his disability was work-related and he was entitled to an accidental disability pension, which is untaxed and pays two-thirds of the beneficiary’s salary, while an ordinary disability pension pays 40 percent of salary and is taxed.
A deputy attorney general and investigator handling the appeal for the PFRS Board subsequently learned that Streater was teaching jiu jitsu two or more times a week at a mixed martial arts academy. They also found a YouTube video of Streater participating in the highly competitive Grapplers Quest Mixed Martial Arts Tournament in June 2010, at which he won a bronze medal.
Further investigation revealed that Streater was awarded his black belt in jiu jitsu in 2010, while collecting the PFRS disability pension. The PFRS Board revoked Streater’s disability pension on April 9, 2012, but he already had collected a total of $82,488 in benefits.
“We charge that Streater deviously took advantage of the safety net provided for workers, pretending to be permanently disabled even as he competed in rigorous martial arts activities,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “While his colleagues in the fire department continued to risk their lives to protect the public and honestly earn their pay, it is alleged that he shamelessly stole from their pension system.”
“Working with the pension board, we will remain vigilant to uncover this type of fraud and prosecute it aggressively,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We will not allow con artists to divert funds needed for legitimate beneficiaries. If anyone knows of someone who is feigning a disability to collect pension benefits, we urge them to contact us confidentially.”
Acting Attorney General Hoffman and Director Honig noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free tip line 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to confidentially report fraud, corruption and other illegal activities. The public also can log on to the Division’s webpage at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.
Deputy Attorney General Peter W. Lee presented the case to the state grand jury. The investigation was conducted for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau by Deputy Attorney General Jon Gilmore, Detective John Sheeran and Detective Paul Marfino Jr., under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Lee, who is Deputy Bureau Chief, and Deputy Attorney General Anthony A. Picione, who is Bureau Chief. Acting Attorney General Hoffman thanked the PFRS Board and the Division of Law for their investigation and referral.
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000. The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Camden County, where Streater will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charge.
Shane B. Streater, 40, of Camden, was indicted by a state grand jury on a charge of second-degree theft by deception. The Indictment is the result of an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. The matter was referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the Board of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS).
In February 2009, Streater applied for an accidental disability pension, asserting that he was disabled as the result of two accidents while on duty: one in December 2007, when a car struck the fire truck he was riding, and a second in March 2008, when his fire truck hit a pothole. In each incident, he claimed to have injured his back and/or neck.
Based largely on statements from Streater regarding his inability to engage in physical activity, an independent doctor found he had a total and permanent disability. The doctor concluded, however, that his disability was from a preexisting condition and not work related.
The PFRS Board awarded Streater an ordinary disability pension on January 9, 2010. Streater appealed to the Office of Administrative Law, insisting his disability was work-related and he was entitled to an accidental disability pension, which is untaxed and pays two-thirds of the beneficiary’s salary, while an ordinary disability pension pays 40 percent of salary and is taxed.
A deputy attorney general and investigator handling the appeal for the PFRS Board subsequently learned that Streater was teaching jiu jitsu two or more times a week at a mixed martial arts academy. They also found a YouTube video of Streater participating in the highly competitive Grapplers Quest Mixed Martial Arts Tournament in June 2010, at which he won a bronze medal.
Further investigation revealed that Streater was awarded his black belt in jiu jitsu in 2010, while collecting the PFRS disability pension. The PFRS Board revoked Streater’s disability pension on April 9, 2012, but he already had collected a total of $82,488 in benefits.
“We charge that Streater deviously took advantage of the safety net provided for workers, pretending to be permanently disabled even as he competed in rigorous martial arts activities,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “While his colleagues in the fire department continued to risk their lives to protect the public and honestly earn their pay, it is alleged that he shamelessly stole from their pension system.”
“Working with the pension board, we will remain vigilant to uncover this type of fraud and prosecute it aggressively,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We will not allow con artists to divert funds needed for legitimate beneficiaries. If anyone knows of someone who is feigning a disability to collect pension benefits, we urge them to contact us confidentially.”
Acting Attorney General Hoffman and Director Honig noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free tip line 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to confidentially report fraud, corruption and other illegal activities. The public also can log on to the Division’s webpage at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.
Deputy Attorney General Peter W. Lee presented the case to the state grand jury. The investigation was conducted for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau by Deputy Attorney General Jon Gilmore, Detective John Sheeran and Detective Paul Marfino Jr., under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Lee, who is Deputy Bureau Chief, and Deputy Attorney General Anthony A. Picione, who is Bureau Chief. Acting Attorney General Hoffman thanked the PFRS Board and the Division of Law for their investigation and referral.
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000. The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Camden County, where Streater will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charge.