The Gloucester County Times - August 11, 2011
CAMDEN, NJ — A police officer who works for the U.S. Treasury at the Philadelphia Mint was arrested Thursday morning at his Mount Laurel home, charged with fraudulently collection disability benefits. Richard Rufo, 49, was arrested by special agents from the Offices of the Inspector General for Treasury and the Department of Labor. He’s charged with one count of fraud for allegedly taking approximately $173,000 in federal workers’ compensation benefits while making hundreds of thousands in unreported income running a memorabilia business on the side. According to the complaint, Rufo reported in September 2008 that he injured his back while closing a gate at the mint and was unable to work. He reportedly declined a light duty job, claiming it would be too strenuous. From September 2008 through this month, Rufo received the $173,000 in benefits. On three occasions since 2008, Rufo allegedly completed workers’ compensation forms on which he stated he had not worked for any employer, had been self-employed or received any other income besides the benefit payments for the past 15 months. According to the complaint, Rufo was operating United Safety Supply Co., selling law enforcement badges, pins, patches, coins, T-shirts and hats from his home. In telephone calls monitored during the investigation, Rufo allegedly said he’d been so busy he was getting two deliveries of merchandise every day and had a long list of federal clients. Rufo allegedly was seen selling memorabilia at a booth set up during Police Week in Washington, D.C. in May 2010 and May 2011 Between September 2008 and November 2010, Rufo allegedly made more than $1.1 million in gross receipts and netted approximately $318,000 from the company. If convicted, Rufo faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine.
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