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Smooth Step As 9/11 Thief Keeps $1 Mil
New York Post June 14, 2008 By Kati Cornell

The "severely injured" 9/11 con man caught on a wedding video doing the limbo will be dancing all the way to the bank.

Port Authority painter Mario Mastellone will be able to keep $1 million in Victim Compensation Fund money as part of a sweetheart deal he struck with Manhattan federal prosecutors.

He scored a second victory in court yesterday when Judge Victor Marrero mercifully gave him the minimum sentence of 21/2 years in prison instead of a possible three years and a month.

Mastellone will have to repay only $100,000 of the $1.1 million he got from the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

"I am the victim," Mastellone, 42, said as he waltzed away from the courthouse.

Asked whether he feels any remorse for pulling the largest World Trade Center scam to date, the burly scammer grumbled, "None."

In court, Marrero contrasted the acts of heroism by thousands of New Yorkers after the terror attacks with the "bizarre behavior by some . . . perpetrated by people who saw tragedy as a treasure trove."

"Mr. Mastellone, unfortunately you were among the latter," Marrero said. "By lying, you exploited and capitalized on those tragic events."

Mastellone pocketed the cash by exaggerating the back injuries he suffered while escaping from the WTC's north tower and falsely stating on his application that he was permanently disabled.

Defense lawyer Andrew Karpf unsuccessfully argued for a sentence of home detention, claiming his client not only suffers from back problems but is also severely depressed and doesn't know how to read.

Karpf told reporters that Mastellone rightly deserves the cash and only agreed to plead guilty in February to one count of illegally obtaining public money because he couldn't handle the stress of trial.

Assistant US Attorney Jenna Dabbs painted a different picture with videos she submitted to the judge prior to the sentencing, including a 2002 tape that the feds subpoenaed from a wedding videographer.

On it, a grinning Mastellone can be seen dressed in a goofy party hat and Hawaiian lei as the bride leads him to a limbo pole, which he attempts to navigate.

Later, Mastellone shows off his John Travolta-style moves to "Disco Inferno."

Additional tapes recorded outside Mastellone's New Jersey home show him washing and waxing a silver Mercedes outside and pushing a snowblower.

Prosecutors said he has secretly worked the occasional painting job since 9/11.

Smooth Step As 9/11 Thief Keeps $1 Mil New York Post June 14, 2008 By Kati Cornell

Smooth Step As 9/11 Thief Keeps $1 Mil
New York Post June 14, 2008 By Kati Cornell