EdwardKnoxII 0 Report post Posted December 30, 2003 http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp...0/120078191.htm Former Minnesota Beauty Queen Indicted By STEVE KARNOWSKI MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A former beauty queen was indicted on federal charges she allegedly lied about being disabled to collect $190,000 in Social Security benefits, prosecutors said Monday. It's the second time prosecutors have lodged such allegations against Denise ``Dee'' Marie Henderson. The U.S. Attorney's office filed a civil lawsuit against her in August. A grand jury indicted the 43-year-old Henderson on charges of wire fraud, as well as concealing information from and making false statements to the Social Security Administration. Her first court appearance was set for Friday. Henderson was crowned Mrs. Minnesota International in 1999 and competed in the Mrs. U.S. International pageant. She won the Mrs. Iowa International 2001 pageant and went on to become a Mrs. International Top 10 finalist. The government alleges Henderson falsely claimed she suffered disabling injuries in a 1995 car wreck, which she said affected her ability to work and care for herself. Prosecutors noted Henderson entered and won the Mrs. Minnesota International pageant shortly after she claimed she was disabled - and made hundreds of personal appearances and did extensive pageant work. Defense attorney Earl Gray said the charges were unfounded, and that his client would be acquitted. ``She is a victim of the government's newly found zeal in prosecuting disabled people,'' Gray said in a statement. ``Apparently the government believes that a disabled person cannot become Mrs. Minnesota.'' Henderson, who lives in a St. Paul suburb, has said she continues to suffer from severe migraines and other ailments as a result of the accident. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of nine counts against her. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
