By Jeff Lipton
, despite an annual income of $150,000 and an accumulation of $400,000 in his bank account, county officials said last week.
The man, identified as Ricky DiBernardo of 325 Lido Blvd., was arrested by police at his home on Jan. 16 and charged with second-degree grand larceny for allegedly bilking the Medicaid system out of the money, authorities said.
DiBernardo is the son of alleged mob figure Robert DiBernardo, who lived in the Hewlett area and was a reputed capo in the Gambino crime family. Robert DiBernardo was indicted in 1981 on charges of interstate commerce of pornographic films and videos, and reportedly disappeared in 1986 after ignoring an invitation to meet with Gambino boss John Gotti. He was believed to have been murdered by a crew run by Sammy "The Bull" Gravano on orders from Gotti because he was allegedly talking behind Gotti's back. His body was never found.
During a press conference on Jan. 17, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi joined Police Commissioner James Lawrence to announce the arrest of Ricky DiBernardo for allegedly receiving Medicaid services to which he was not entitled.
Investigators for the Nassau County Department of Social Services accused him of misrepresenting his ability to pay for his medical expenses on an application for Medicaid benefits. He received the benefits between July 2004 and March 2006, police said. After investigators uncovered the fraud and spent months tracing DiBernardo's hidden assets, they turned the case over to the Nassau County Police Department for further investigation of the allegations of fraud and criminal misconduct, authorities said.
As part of a proactive operation by the Department of Social Services, investigators received information that DiBernardo had substantial income and assets that would make him ineligible for Medicaid benefits, officials said.
Among his possessions were a 2003 Hummer, a recently purchased home in Lido Beach and substantial bank accounts, authorities said. After a routine background check, the Department of Investigations found that DiBernardo had recently purchased his Lido Beach home for $660,000, and that his mortgage application listed his income as $12,500 a month.
In addition, investigators found that DiBernardo deposited $334,833 in bank accounts during a 21-month period from July 2004 through March 2006, and that most of the deposits were cash. He also made a total of $115,840 in withdrawals between Sept. 30, 2004 and June 6, 2005, and paid $20,500 to American Express in a 53-day period from Aug. 31, 2004 through Oct. 22, 2004, authorities said.
"This is a flagrant example of the type of Medicaid fraud and abuse that is still going on in Nassau County," Suozzi said at the press conference. "The county's Department of Social Services and the Nassau County Police Department are committed to doing everything possible to rid the Medicaid program of this type of corruption, which only hurts those who truly deserve Medicaid benefits."
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
