Close Ad

This 9/11 Hero Got Scammed Out Of $1M - Today, He Was Given $400,000
911 NYPD Hero John Ferreyra
Everyday Heroes

This 9/11 Hero Got Scammed Out Of $1M - Today, He Was Given $400,000

The world will never forget the bravery and sacrifice of the first responders on 9/11 – but nearly two decades later, many have lost their lives to illnesses related to the toxic matter they inhaled – and many others are sick and suffering.

One such hero is cancer survivor John Ferreyra, who was scammed out of a million dollars by a fellow former NYPDer (turned lawyer) who he thought was a friend.


But Ferreyra was just awarded a check for  $400,000 by the New York State Lawyers Fund, and things are looking a little less hopeless.

Justice is finally served

“I am both humbled and grateful to finally receive (nearly) half of the award that was given to me for my disabling 9/11 illness,” said Ferreyra, diagnosed in in 2005 with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

“It is my hope that no other member of the 9/11 community, or anybody else, ever has to experience what my family and I went through.”

John Ferreyra

The lawyers’ fund exists to help people who are victimized by scamming lawyers, much like Gustavo Vila, who pleaded guilty to stealing 90% of Ferreyra’s check from the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Vila stole all but $100,000 of Ferreyra’s $1 million check, and then used the money to pay his taxes and give money to his family. In fact, Vila wasn’t even a legal attorney – he was actually disbarred for grand larceny in 2015.

Surviving years of struggles

Ferreyra has suffered multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, as well as radiation and a stem cell transplant. And even when relief was near in the form of that check, it still was an ordeal.

“It’s inexcusable to steal from anyone, but to target and prey upon a 9/11 hero in this way is a despicable betrayal not of just John Ferreyra but of all those who have sacrificed their health and lives working to rebuild following the attacks,” said 9/11 survivors advocate John Feal.

Feal presented the $400,00 check to Ferreyra with attorney Michael Barash. “I could simply not stand by when I heard John’s devastating story, realizing he was being victimized again,” said Barash. “This was a betrayal of trust, plain and simple.”

Life can be fair sometimes

These heroes of the attack on the World Trade Center should be honored and respected -- not taken advantage of. Thankfully, in the end justice was (mostly!) restored and Ferreyra got money he so richly deserved.

More uplifting stories:

Hot Stories

Pamela Anderson Opens Up About Her 9 Disastrous Weddings
Why Pamela Anderson Can't Stop Getting Married

Pamela Anderson has it all: beauty, fame and success. So why can’t the most famous blonde find her fairytale ending? Why is Pamela so unlucky in love and what dark secrets lie behind her seemingly glamorous life?

Keep ReadingShow less
Life Stories
Woman at a restaurant's window and two teen employees.

Teens Applauded For the Way They Handled This Angry Customer

Instagram/ @kekessnowballs

Working in customer service can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with rude and demanding clients. That’s particularly true for some teens, who work these jobs for part-time money and are often bullied by adults. Perhaps that’s why people are applauding these teen girls for the way they expertly handled an over-the-top customer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uplifting News
Man standing with two daughters, a black purse and a handwritten note (inset)

Grieving Daughter Finds Note In Fossil Purse While Thrifting

Courtesy Anna Harp and Courtesy of Abrielle Clausing (via People.com)

Thrifting can net all sorts of treasures. Shoppers can snatch up everything from vintage clothes to mid-century modern furniture to kitschy knick-knacks, all without breaking the bank.

But for one grieving woman, she found a hidden gem that was truly priceless.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uplifting News