beauty queen accused of disability fraud

From: JWismille (jwismille_at_aol.com)
Date: 08/30/04 

Date: 30 Aug 2004 00:33:00 GMT

The federal government sued a former beauty queen Monday, claiming she
fraudulently collected more than $190,000 in Social Security disability
benefits, even while she was competing in pageants.

Denise "Dee" Marie Henderson, 43, was crowned Mrs. Minnesota International in
1999 and competed in the Mrs. U.S. International pageant the same year while
receiving the benefits. In both contests she competed in aerobic, evening gown
and other events, prosecutors said.

The lawsuit seeks about $600,000, representing damages of three times what
Henderson collected from Social Security, plus unspecified civil penalties,
interest and costs.

According to the complaint, Henderson falsely claimed she was disabled by a
1995 auto accident that caused headaches and prevented her from sitting for
more than 20 minutes, sleeping, reading her daily mail or lifting more than a
few pounds. She received Social Security benefits going back to 1996.

Karen Bailey, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office, would not say
whether Henderson was the subject of a criminal case as well. She said
Henderson had 20 days to respond to the civil complaint.

Henderson's attorney, Steven Silton, said she is innocent, and that she
provided "accurate and full information" to Social Security.

Henderson declined to talk to a reporter. Her husband, Ken Henderson, said the
family is "confused by this, I will tell you that."

"This is not a new matter. It has been around three-plus years," he said.

Henderson also won the Mrs. Iowa International 2001 pageant, and went on to
become a Mrs. International Top 10 finalist. She runs the Miss Teen
International pageants in Minnesota and Iowa, according to the complaint.

The Mrs. Minnesota International Pageant is separate from the pageant named
simply Mrs. Minnesota, whose winner advances to the Mrs. America pageant.