A man who pretends to be mentally and physically handicapped while he goes around the streets begging claims he makes up to $100,000 a year from his panhandling.

Gary Thompson, from Texas, gets around Lexington, Kentucky, in a wheelchair which he says he needs because he has difficulty walking.
He also maneuvers his hands in a way that would lead the untrained eye to believe he had difficulty using them.
His sob story to passers by is that his family took the money he received when he was paralyzed in the accident. He does have some difficulty walking but is not totally paralyzed.


When he was confronted about the scheme by LEX 18 news station, he laughed and said he doesn't plan on stopping any time soon.
'I appreciate you guys busting me,' Thompson told a reporter. 'Yeah, I’m really good at it, really good. I clear about 100,000 dollars a year doing this. [link to www.dailymail.co.uk]