A former Camden firefighter was convicted Tuesday of stealing more than $80,000 in state disability pension payments at the same time he earned his black belt in jiu-jitsu and competed in a mixed martial arts tournament, state authorities said.
A Camden County jury on Tuesday found Shane Streater, 41, of Camden, guilty of second-degree theft by deception, which carries a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and up to $150,000 in fines, according to the state Attorney General's Office. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 20.
Streater's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Streater applied for an accidental disability pension in 2009, claiming he injured his neck and back after the fire truck on which he was riding was struck by a car in 2007, and after his fire truck hit a pot hole in 2008.
An independent doctor concluded he had a total and permanent disability, but that it was from a preexisting condition and not work-related, authorities said.