Huntington Man Charged With Stealing $100K in Disability Benefits

A 40-year-old Huntington Station man was arrested and indicted Tuesday on allegations that he pocketed approximately $100,000 in Social Security disability payments while simultaneously entering weightlifting competitions and running a personal training business, state Attorney General Letitia James announced.

Raymond Phillips, who left the New York City Police Department to work as an electrician, faces one count of second-degree grand larceny — a Class C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison — along with two counts of first-degree filing a false instrument, each a Class E felony. He was arraigned Tuesday in Suffolk County Supreme Court.

Prosecutors say Phillips claimed in August 2018 that injuries he suffered while lifting weights had rendered him unable to work or perform basic daily activities without assistance, and that damage to his dominant arm necessitated surgery. The Social Security Administration approved his application in May 2021, with payments backdated to 2018.

Phillips continued receiving those benefits through December 2024, prosecutors said. Over that same stretch, investigators say he posted photos and footage on Facebook and Instagram depicting him hoisting heavy loads and competing in events — including video of him performing bench presses and squats at the 2023 American Pro competition — all while claiming he could not raise his dominant arm or independently squat and stand.

Phillips also marketed himself as a personal trainer, prosecutors said, and continued to attest to his eligibility for benefits in written submissions and at hearings through October 2025.

The NYPD confirmed that Phillips served on the force from 2007 to 2013 before leaving.

"Raymond Phillips shamelessly collected benefits meant for disabled New Yorkers while boasting his weightlifting achievements on social media," James said in a statement. "My office has no tolerance for fraudsters who cheat the system and steal from programs that are a lifeline for New Yorkers in need."

Phillips' defense attorney, Steven Alan Metcalf II, did not respond to a request for comment. Phillips himself could not be reached.