A Buchanan County man who faked being a quadriplegic became the third member of his family to be sentenced on federal fraud charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Dudley announced Monday.

Timothy Carl Ling, 31, of Hurley was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison on charges related to several fraud schemes that also involved his mother and father.

Ling first claimed to be paralyzed in 2004 to avoid being jailed for a probation violation, a statement from Dudley's office said. He and his family then applied for a variety of benefits that included work on their home, purchase of a specially equipped van and payment of more than $200,000 in medical bills, prosecutors said.

The Lings racked up fraudulent credit card charges of more than $344,000 with vacations, gambling and buying property, and were involved in identity theft and the fraudulent purchase of vehicles, prosecutors said. Timothy Ling also helped sell OxyContin, the statement said.

Ling's mother, Carol Irene Estep, 54, was earlier sentenced to almost eight years in prison. His father, Herman Scott Ling, 67, was given five years' probation. All three family members were ordered to pay $500,000 restitution and give up property in Kentucky and Virginia.

-- Mike Gangloff