Son sentenced for faking mental retardation

TACOMA – A Vancouver man was sentenced Friday to 13 months in prison for pretending to be mentally retarded to claim disability benefits.

Pete J. Costello, 28, was sentenced here by U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton.

The man’s mother, Rosie Costello, was scheduled to be sentenced next Thursday for coaching her son and daughter to feign mental retardation. The daughter has not been located by authorities.

Pete Costello began receiving Social Security disability benefits when he was 8. He was ordered to repay the $59,226 he has received since turning 18.

In February, Rosie Costello, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government as well as Social Security fraud. Pete Costello also pleaded guilty in February.

The young man, who cannot read or write, dictated a letter to his public defender that was submitted to Leighton before sentencing and filed in court.

“I know that it was wrong to ‘act like a child’ in the Social Security office when that is not how I really am,” the letter said. “I feel very bad about this and want to do everything I can to pay this money back.”

According to the plea agreement, the woman began coaching her daughter at age 4 and later used the same ruse with her son. He continued to feign retardation into his mid-20s – picking at his face, slouching and appearing uncommunicative in meetings with Social Security officials.

The scheme came to light last year after Pete Costello got a traffic ticket while driving in Vancouver, then was videotaped acting normally when he contested the ticket in court.

His mother collected $287,715 during a 20-year period. In her plea agreement, she agreed to repay the government.