Justice Says FCC Video Service For Deaf Defrauded Out Of $60M

The Justice Department said Thursday it has taken action against a scheme to defraud the Federal Communications Commission's video relay service for the deaf out of millions of dollars. The service allows the deaf and hard of hearing to communicate with hearing people over video phones, or more frequently via computers with cameras in real time using American Sign Language and interpreters. Making the announcement in a briefing with reporters at the Justice Department Thursday were Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny Breuer; Joseph Persichini, Jr., assistant director of the FBI's Washington Field Office; Deputy Chief Postal Inspector Zane Hill; and Ed Lazarus, Chief of Staff at the FCC. Jack Baur said 26 individuals had been indicted in a wide-ranging scheme. Consumers pay into the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) fund, some $540 million in 2008, for the service, with calls costing hundreds of dollars per hour to cover the cost of translators.