From 1997 to 2005, Ronald and Mary Evano turned dining in
restaurants into a profitable albeit illegal scam. They used the “waiter, there
is glass in my food” ruse in restaurants and supermarkets stretching from
Boston to Washington, D.C. While crude, their efforts paid big dividends. They
allegedly swindled insurance companies out of $200,000 and conned a generous
helping of food establishments and hospitals along the way. And to top it off,
in order to look authentic, the Evanos actually did eat glass. How did the
Evanos pull off their scam? After ordering or buying food at restaurants, hotel
bars, or supermarkets, either Ronald or May would “discover” glass in his or
her food. They would then complain of the incident to management and fi ll out a
report. After leaving the food establishment, they would check into the emergency
room at the local hospital complaining of severe stomach pain. After presenting
fake IDs and Social Security cards to hospital staff, they’d allow doctors to
examine them. In some cases, x-rays would show actual pieces of glass in their
stomachs (but none of it came from the food they purchased). Once released from
the hospital, the couple would continue getting medical treatment for stomach
pain. After racking up several thousand dollars in bills, they would file an
insurance claim for their extensive “pain and suffering.” The scheme unraveled
when the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts noticed a pattern of
glass-eating claims in the state. The private industry organization eventually
realized that most claims were being fi led by the same couple and contacted
federal authorities who then traced the couple’s trail of insurance fraud
across three states and the District of Columbia. On March 16, 2006, the Evanos
were indicted on mail fraud, identity theft, Social Security fraud, and making
false statements on health care matters. Ronald was arrested less than a month
later, but Mary—his partner in crime—is still on the lam.
Sources: Department of Justice Press Release, “Man Arrested
in Glass-Eating Fraud Scheme,” (accessed June 25, 2008); Federal Bureau of
Investigation, “Bizarre Meal Ticket: The Couple Who Ate Glass,” November 8,
2006
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