Feds arrested another retired employee of the Long Island Rail Road on fraud charges on Friday, bringing the tally of those busted in an ongoing disability pension probe to 22, law enforcement officials said.
Donald Alevas, age 53, was arrested by the FBI at his home in Patchogue early Friday, officials said. Alevas retired from the LIRR in 2008.
Since October 2011,22 people, including two doctors, have been arrested in the probe. They are accused of participating in a scheme in which LIRR workers allegedly claimed to be disabled upon early retirement so they could receive disability benefits from the federal Railroad Retirement Board in addition to their LIRR pension.
Friday marks the end of a voluntary disclosure and disposition program, announced by prosecutors in May, in which the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan agreed it would not criminally prosecute or file any civil action against any LIRR retirees who admit that they made false and misleading statements to obtain disability benefits and give up their right to continue receiving the disability benefits. Under this program, the retiree would not be required to pay back the amount of the disability payments already received. It is unclear whether anyone voluntarily has come forward.
According to prosecutors, a unique LIRR contract allows employees to retire at age 50 with a smaller pension than the full retirement pension for which they would be eligible at age 65. An LIRR employee who retires and claims disability can receive a disability payment from the federal RRB in addition to their LIRR pension, regardless of age.
According to prosecutors, more than 1,500 LIRR retirees who took early retirement are also receiving the special federal disability benefits.
Alevas will appear in federal court in Manhattan later today.
Get the latest from NBC 4 New York anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Get our apps here and sign up for email newsletters here. Get breaking news delivered right to your phone -- just text NYBREAKING to 639710. For more info, text HELP. To end, text STOP. Message and data rates may apply.
