Social Security and Disability Law

Alabama Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Transferring Machinegun Conversion Devices and Theft of Government Funds

October 11, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ivan Hollingsworth (35, Florence, AL) to 10 years in federal prison for transferring machinegun conversion devices and theft of government funds. The court also ordered Hollingsworth to forfeit $46,426.91, which is traceable to proceeds of…

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Chicago Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for $1.5 Million Scheme to Obtain Two Dozen Luxury Vehicles Using Stolen Identities

October 6, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana INDIANAPOLIS- Alexander Weatherspoon, a/k/a “Tyler Simmons,” 28, of Chicago, Illinois, has been sentenced to 6 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements. According to court documents, from December 2017 to August 2019, Weatherspoon participated in a…

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Social Security Employee Admits Creating Fake Children’s Profiles to Steal Government Money

October 4, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Texas BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 38-year-old Harlingen resident and former claims specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA) has pleaded guilty to theft of government property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.  Lee Marvin Nichols admitted to creating fictitious profiles for two children that did not exist. He linked…

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Melbourne Man Sentenced To More Than Three Years In Federal Prison For Stealing Social Security Benefits

September 28, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Tommy Mendez (42, Melbourne) to three years and one month in federal prison for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered…

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Tijuana Man Sentenced to Federal Prison after 30-Year Identity Theft Uncovered

September 26, 2023

SAN DIEGO – Abel Alonso Valdez-Vazquez was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for misusing the identity of an American citizen for over 30 years in order to obtain identification documents and thousands of dollars in government benefits. U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia ordered Valdez-Vazquez, 59, to pay $81,185.35 in restitution to the…

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Jefferson County Chiropractor Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison, Ordered to Repay $4.3 Million for Health Care, Disability Fraud

September 25, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Friday sentenced a chiropractor from Jefferson County, Missouri to four years in prison and ordered him to repay $4.3 million lost to a disability and health care fraud scheme that involved 17 other defendants.  Beginning in…

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West Virginia Man Charged with Wire Fraud in Elder Justice Case

September 25, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joseph M. Beach, age 54, of Inwood, West Virginia, has been indicted for misappropriation by a fiduciary, wire fraud, theft of government property, false written statement, and false statement to federal agent. According to court documents, Beach was appointed as fiduciary…

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Grandview Woman Pleads Guilty to $209,000 Disability Benefits Fraud

September 12, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grandview, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraudulently receiving more than $200,000 in disability benefits while operating a childcare business. Sandra D. Mondaine, 63, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of theft…

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St. Louis County Mother, Son Accused of Disability Fraud

September 7, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri mother and her son were indicted this week in U.S. District Court in St. Louis and accused of defrauding the Supplemental Security Income Program with false claims of a mental disability. Gino Rives, 35, of Edmundson, appeared in…

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Texas Woman Admits to Decades-long Use of Stolen Identity

August 29, 2023

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old resident of Laredo has entered a guilty plea to passport fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Elizabeth Ann Berbel is also known as Ana Elizabeth Gomez-Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez, Anna Elizabeth Gomez…

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