Five. Number good evening, thanks for joining us. Disability fraud can be robbing taxpayers blind. With some cheaters claiming to be totally blind and collecting disability after a workplace accident. So when happens when theyre caught on video driving, or even boating . Tonight government investigators give us an inside look at how theyre caught in the act. Heres abcs chief business and technology correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis. Reporter john kettle beeiano appears to need a lot of help. Here he is being led to list girlfriend to his disability hearing. He claims he could not drive. He couldnt cook for himself. He said he lost his sight in a workplace accident two years earlier. I sit in the dark and listen to tv. He said in his application for benefits, i cant move around the house much, because i bump into things and hurt myself. But before you start feeling sorry for him, take a look at this video, shot just days earlier. Yep, thats the same john. It looks like hes reading. You can see him outside a store. He appears to be reading something here. Reporter a miracle for someone who cant see. Disability fraud is a big problem across the united states. Last year the Social Security administration received 90,000 allegations to investigate. We receive allegations from a number of sources. Reporter Michael Robinson is the assistant Inspector General for the Social Security administration, which last year, won 1,200 convictions and a return of 225 million to you and me, the taxpayers. When it comes to making an assessment of how many are out there, we know how much has been brought to our attention. And we really rely on those fraud allegations that we receive. Reporter so when a tip came in about john, u. S. Attorney richard har tunian and his counterparts at the Social Security administration were quick to investigate. The surveillance folks, they can be challenging work. Reporter with videos out there like this one, there can be a lot to work with. Heres john as the blind gentleman, shifalerous in an uncanny way to might want the door held open for him instead. This is not the guy we saw getting out of his car with his former girlfriend . Absolutely not. Reporter the investigation turns out that he did lose sight in one eye in a workplace incident, but no indication of the other being affected. Lets put it this way. Should a blind man be doing this . So here you see the defendant driving a vehicle. Reporter and hes able to to avoid running over that woman with the shopping cart. It must be his sixth sense. He said he couldnt go out in the daylight, pay bills or read medication labels. All false. Reporter he was on track to steal 1. 3 million in benefits before he got caught. Is that common . Its common in the world of fraud that people make claims that are just not true. More than 7,000 cases are opened each year of suspected con artists trying to dupe the system. Like this guy. Surveillance on lawrence pop. Reporter youre watching another federal sting operation in progress. Lawrence pop has no idea hes being tailed by government agents, and they might want to exercise caution, because no matter what, youre in pops blind spot. At least thats what the milwaukee businessman led people to believe when he was claiming he was too blind to drive. Larry has been collecting Social Security disability payments for his blindness for years, all the while living the high life. Traveling the world and spending like theres no tomorrow. Lawrence pop is walking towards the Social Security office. Reporter hes here today to make sure those payments keep on coming. You cant do almost anything that you used to do . No. My lifes just changed dramatically. Reporter but the tape reveals one thing lawrence pop is very good at. Lying. Do you declare, under penalty of perjury that the information youve given me is true and correct to the best of your knowledge . Yes. Reporter like kalta beeiano, pop did have legitimate Vision Impairment in 2004 when he signed up for disability benefits. But he promised to notify the department if his medical condition improved, or if he were to get a job or generate income. Well, his eyes did get better, and he generated plenty of income. But freeloading larry decided to keep those details to himself. There were trips to italy, florida, the kaymans. He even spent time driving a motor boat, towing water skiers around the lake. Larry is a person that likes money. Reporter oh, yes. Then theres the exwife, kimberly pop, who confirms larry lavish spending, but said the same rules did not apply to her. I was on a strict budget. Reporter not only could he overspend, he could overact. At times, appearing to tear up at a Social Security office in a truly oscarworthy performance. This is kind of reliving it, so im sorry. Im sorry. Yeah, i dont meend to do that to you. Its got to be done. Reporter even pops own lawyer didnt buy his act. Is he really crying . He definitely was not telling the truth and he knew it. What do you think it was about larrys case that tipped them off . I know what it was. You had an exwife who dropped the dime. Reporter yes, kimberly is indirectly responsible for helping to take down the bogus man. The tipping point, when the irs came after here claiming she owed thousands in back taxes. It turned out lawrence pop had applied for benefits not just for himself, but for the entire family, and pocketed every dime. Ultimately you were the one who turned him in . I wasnt going to take the fall for something that he was doing that was illegal. Reporter in all, the feds say larry fraudulently collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in government payments. In january 2014, pops freeloading days came to an end. He was sentenced to a year in jail and had to pay back the stolen money. If he hadnt been caught redhanded, do you think he would still be bilking the system . Absolutely. Reporter larry was released from prison last year, and on a frigid milwaukee morning, he gave abc news the cold shoulder. Hi there, sir . Rebecca jarvis, abc news. Are you sorry for stealing that money from taxpayers . Why did you lie in the interview . Why did you lie in the interview, sir . Pop had no answers for us. And back in upstate new york, neither did john kalt beeiano, who was sentenced to almost five years of federal mail fraud just last month. His lawyer says he is appealing his case. His girlfriend, who did not drop a dime on him, is serving three years probation. And for any cons out there considering getting some dark glasses and a cane, Michael Robinson has a message. Were going to do everything that we can to ensure that those individuals who violate the Publics Trust are held accountable. Reporter for nightline, im Rebecca Jarvis in albany. Up next, well take you inside the pitchathon, where todays basement inventors hope to turn their wild ideas into the next big thing. And later, how puppy play time is helping College Students pass their finals. Never be good. Purina believes it can. Inspecting every ingredient for quality . Thats big. Being confident that your pets food is 100 safe . Thats big, too. Spending more healthy years with your best friend . Thats amazing. Big is exciting. Daring. For everyone. Pets dont just make life better they make it bigger. Purina. Live big. Ya know, viagra helps guys get and keep an erection. Talk to your doctor about viagra. Ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. Do not take viagra if you take nitrates for chest pain or adempasĀ® for pulmonary hypertension. Your Blood Pressure could drop to an unsafe level. To avoid longterm injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. 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This would be, i dont know, im near speechless of how big this event it and how much it would mean to us if this would be successful. Good morning, san diego reporter welcome to the response expo. For ten bucks, youre getting ten manicures. Thats unlimited hairstyles. Reporter its a pitchathon. Yes, telebrands, of the as seen on tv logo fame. Kristin and ben, vying for a tv slot with other inventors. The gotta potty. Help me bring this invention to your kitchen. Reporter many have traveled from afar. Checking in at the honolulu airport. Im heading halfway across the country. Do we have a deal . Reporter these inventors are here to pitch the next big idea. Woke up feeling we didnt hardly sleep, it was like being a kid on christmas eve. Reporter and the stakes can be high. How much money have you poured into this so far . 250,000. Reporter we used to call them infomercials. Aspray your butt, even your privates. The ginsu is so sharp, it can cut through a tin can and still slice a tomato like this. The euro plug will help you with no embarrassing moments. Call now within the next 20 minutes, because you know we cant do this all day. Reporter these days, its called direct Response Marketing and even in this internet and tivo age, still a multi billion dollar a year business. Today vying for that as seen on tv logo. Would you like to try it out. I would. Reporter a back massager, two tennis balls in a sock. Clipon knee pads. Its a good looking knee pads. And april from hawaiis owl belt. It fashions towels to the bar where they belong. I didnt know i needed that. Because you didnt know it existed. Reporter shanes gotta potty tells your dog while hes waiting by the door, not to go on the run. And summons you to come and let him out. I need to poo, let me out. Reporter and from ben and kirsten you can have a pie within a pie. If you want pumpkin or pecan, have both. Reporter whats tickling your fancy so far . Not much so far. Reporter step forward, a face thats launched a billion dollars in infomercial sales. Let me tell you about one of the products you may want. You can imagine how many doors have been slammed on these inventors. They stay in the game, because every now and then, there are success stories. Reporter but for every success like the snugy or enjoy a snack while staying warm. Reporter there are the nesh products that never get that traction. You can have more time to practice your putting with the potty putter. Im ben and this is kirsten. Its warm, approachable, got a big smile, going well so far. Reporter and the product . Youre pie people. Pie people, yes. This is wonder so ingenious, but its so basic, you wonder how come nobody invented it before. Thats the best stuff. Reporter whats the sweet stuff . Something that solves someones problem. If you have a product that appeals to the widest audience, that you can demo, demo, demo, that is the trifecta. Reporter what is the ideal price window, from 10 to 40. Music vest, is sweeping the country. 19. 99. How much is this . This right now, were looking at about 20. Ding ding ding ding, winner chicken dinner. But i would chicken on the outside, apple in the middle, entree and dessert. Thats brilliant reporter thank you. Could you do that . Absolutely. Its judgment day, only three inventors are invited to pitch investors. Aprils towel belt. And i woke up feeling like, okay, maybe i am still a little nervous, but it will be good. Reporter and shanes gotta potty. I enjoy talking about it, so it doesnt make me nervous. Reporter will they bite or chew up our inventors . Im April Mitchell and this is my product, the telebelt. Which doesnt set the room on fire. There are other ways to go to market as well. Reporter gotta potty. Gotta go outside . Reporter the judges sniff, but no bites, not yet. Im nick watt for nightline. But wait, theres more. Reporter weve been working on this for a really long time, and i know youre ready. Hello, everyone. My names van dexter, im a product developer and a lover of pie. Reporter solid start. Sorry, im a little nervous. Reporter but that Nervous Energy is very natural and absolutely expected. Reporter but they want more mark research before committing. Its a new concept. Youre asking, will they consider two pies in one . Reporter its a revolution is what it is. Im nick watt for nightline, in san diego, california. Up next, with millions of College Students cramming for finals, how these campus companions are proving to be a welcome study break. Abc news nightline, brought to you by volkswagen. Hmmmmmm. [ dreams by beck ] hmmmmm. Hmmmmm. The turbocharged dream machine. The Volkswagen Golf gti. Part of the awardwinning golf family. Is soh, she better not be. Ld . 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I have a bunch of things do and a bunch of performances coming up. It can be really stressful. Reporter its finals time at julliard, the elite performing arts school in new york. We dont really have a Second Chance for these kind of things. Its a once a year kind of an event. Reporter his method for overcoming a rough time . Comes covered in fur. Hi, how are you . Reporter a therapy dog study break. Dogs are great, they will give you affection no matter what. Its a good time to get away from everything. Reporter julliard and other campuses are bringing therapy dogs to wick away the stress. More than 40 of students they say experienced overwhelming anxiety in the past year. They really help destress, lower Blood Pressure and they help people in need. The president of the good dog Therapy Association said these dogs go through rigorous training. The dogs give you unconditional love. So its great to receive that when youre really stressed out. Reporter chen said that after a little puppy play i feel a lot less stressed. Reporter hes ready to go back to performing. We need some puppies here, please. Thanks for watching abc news. Tune in to Good Morning America tomorrow and as always, were online on our Facebook Page and at abc news. Com. Goodnight, america, have a great weekend