Man fakes retardation for 20 years

By David Pescovitz at 9:17 am Wednesday, Dec 6

For two decades, Rosie Marie Costello of Tacoma Vancouver, Washington has received Social Security disability benefits for her son, Pete, who appeared to be severely mentally disabled, unable to communicate, shower, or take care of himself. Turns out though that Pete has been, er, "exaggerating," and his mom has been running a scam since her son was 8 years old. Prosecutors also suspect that she conducted similar fraud with a daughter who they haven't yet located. Over the years, Rosie cleared more than $200,000. From the Associated Press:

(US Attorney Norman) Barbosa filed with the court two videos of Pete Costello taken this year: In one, he allegedly feigns a mental impairment during an interview with Social Security workers by slouching unresponsive in a corner, picking his nose; the other is of him contesting the traffic ticket in a courtroom earlier this year.

Pete Costello sat in court Tuesday, saying nothing, but showing no outward sign he is mentally impaired. He works as an auto-body repairman and lives with a girlfriend and two of her children, prosecutors said.

"Obviously his mother did get him involved in this ... but he's been an adult for many years," Barbosa said.

Link (Thanks, Lindsay Tiemeyer!)