NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A former NYPD detective pleaded guilty on Thursday to lying that he was unable to work due to an injury while collecting a salary under the counter at a Long Island motorcycle dealership, according to the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Andrew Albate, 53, filed for disability benefits in 2004 after being forced out of work by a purported 2003 injury. He continued to collect more than $156,000 in disability benefits between 2019 and 2022, even after he started working as a manager at Formula One Motorsports in Oakdale, New York.
While he worked full time, Albate lied to the Social Services Administration by claiming he was still unable to work.
“Disability benefits are a critical lifeline and source of independence for New Yorkers who cannot otherwise earn a living wage,” said New York AG Letitia James. “Andrew Albate falsely claimed a debilitating injury to cheat the system and steal from taxpayers and those who actually need financial support. His fraudulent scheme is an insult to those living with disabilities, and I am grateful to our partners at SSA for working with us to bring him to justice.”
He pleaded guilty to one count of offering a false instrument for filing. If he fails to pay $156,000 in restitution to the SSA, he’ll face one year in jail.
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