Former New York Railroad Conductor Avoids Prison in Disability Scheme

A former Long Island Rail Road conductor has been ordered to repay nearly $295,000 in connection with the LIRR disability fraud case in New York.

Christopher Parlante was a key government witness in two trials that ended in convictions of five people in the scam.

Newsday says he is the latest defendant to avoid prison time. At sentencing Tuesday, he was ordered to repay the money at a rate of just $25 a month.

Prosecutors have arrested 33 doctors, consultants and former workers in what they say was a long-running scheme to falsify disabilities. Only 10 have been sentenced to prison.

Parlante retired in 2004 and applied for disability benefits. But prosecutors say he worked hundreds of hours of overtime to boost his pension just before retiring.

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