A Long Island man allegedly told government agencies that an injured arm left him unable to work or perform routine activities. Prosecutors say he was simultaneously lifting heavy weights, entering competitions, advertising personal-training services, and posting the evidence online.

A former New York City police officer has been accused of fraudulently collecting more than $100,000 in federal disability benefits while competing in powerlifting events and promoting himself as a personal trainer.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest and indictment of Raymond Phillips, 40, of Huntington, Suffolk County, on July 14.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Phillips claimed that a serious injury to his dominant left arm prevented him from working and made it difficult for him to complete ordinary daily activities.

Investigators allege that his social-media accounts presented a very different picture.

Disability on Paper, Powerlifting on Social Media

Phillips reportedly injured his left arm while lifting weights in June 2018.

In August 2018, he submitted paperwork to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, claiming that he had undergone surgery and was physically incapable of working.

According to prosecutors, Phillips stated that he could not perform most routine activities without assistance and that pain from the injury prevented him from working in any capacity.

The Social Security Administration subsequently approved his disability claim. Prosecutors say Phillips received more than $100,000 in Social Security disability benefits between 2021 and 2024.

During that same period, however, Phillips allegedly continued lifting heavy weights, competing in powerlifting events and operating or advertising a personal-training business.

The Attorney General’s Office said investigators found photographs and videos posted to Facebook and Instagram showing Phillips bench-pressing, squatting with heavy weights and participating in competitions.

Official photographs released by the Attorney General include images of Phillips competing at The American Pro 2023.

The posts allegedly contradicted his representations that he could not lift his dominant arm and had difficulty squatting, bending or standing.

Claims Allegedly Continued Through 2025

The Attorney General’s Office further alleges that Phillips continued affirming his eligibility for disability benefits through written reports and administrative hearings as late as October 2025.

Attorney General James accused Phillips of taking money from programs intended to support people who are genuinely unable to work.

“Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers rely on disability benefits as a source of independence and income,” James said in announcing the charges.

She said her office would not tolerate people who defraud programs that serve as a financial lifeline for residents with legitimate disabilities.

Conor Washington, special agent in charge at the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, said disability benefits are intended for people who are genuinely unable to work—not individuals who misrepresent their medical condition for financial gain.

The investigation was conducted with assistance from the Social Security Administration, the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Was Phillips an NYPD Officer?

The Attorney General’s official announcement does not mention Phillips’ previous employment with the New York Police Department.

However, the New York Post identified him as a former NYPD officer in its report on the case. Because that detail is not included in the Attorney General’s release, it should be attributed to the newspaper rather than presented as part of the formal allegations.

The benefits at issue were federal Social Security disability payments—not an NYPD disability pension.

Three Criminal Counts

Phillips has been charged with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony; and
• two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, Class E felonies.

If convicted of the most serious charge, he could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Phillips was arraigned before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft.

Court records cited by the New York Post indicated that he was expected to return to court on August 13.

The Social-Media Evidence Problem

The allegations illustrate a recurring problem in modern fraud investigations: applicants may make one set of claims in official documents while publicly presenting a different version of their lives online.

In this case, prosecutors say Phillips represented himself to government agencies as unable to use his dominant arm or work in any capacity.

At the same time, the government alleges, his Facebook and Instagram accounts showed him lifting heavy weights, competing publicly and advertising training services.

In other words, the disability allegedly existed on the paperwork while the powerlifting performances remained visible online.

Whether those social-media posts and other evidence prove criminal fraud will ultimately be decided in court.

All charges are allegations. Phillips is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.