Social Security and Disability Law

Army Veteran Sentenced to Federal Prison For Over Three-Quarter Million Dollar Benefit Fraud

January 15, 2025

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Kevin Paul McMains, 44, of Milton, Florida, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of theft of government money and two counts of making false statements to a federal agency. The sentence was announced today by Jason…

Continue reading

Two Men Convicted Of Unlawfully Video Recording Inside Social Security Offices

January 8, 2025

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Orlando, Florida – Following a bench trial, United States Magistrate Judge Embry J. Kidd has found Joshua Joseph Gray (45, New Smyrna Beach) and George Douglas Metz (51, Belleview) guilty of unlawfully video recording and failing to comply with official signs and directives inside multiple Social Security field offices. Gray…

Continue reading

Gainesville Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Stealing Social Security Disability Benefits

January 7, 2025

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Keith Allen Courtney (53, Gainesville) to 13 months in federal prison for conspiracy. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $71,208, the proceeds of conspiracy. Courtney pled guilty on April 12, 2024. According…

Continue reading

Atlantic County Resident Admits Laundering Proceeds of COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program Fraud

December 16, 2024
Law Cards - Legal News Summaries

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man admitted laundering the proceeds of fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Jeremy Earley, 41, of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and Lilburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty on June 1, 2023, before…

Continue reading

Westwego Woman Sentenced For Theft of Government Funds

December 12, 2024
Law Cards - Legal News Summaries

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PENELOPE PASSERO (“PASSERO”), age 50, of Westwego, Louisiana, was sentenced on December 10, 2024 for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. According to court documents, from February 2016 to December 2020, PASSERO knowingly accessed…

Continue reading

Lawrence Man Charged with COVID Relief and Social Security Fraud

December 10, 2024
Law Cards - Legal News Summaries

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts BOSTON – A Lawrence man was charged today in federal court in Boston with scheming to fraudulently obtain and misuse COVID-19 relief funds and stealing Social Security benefits. Randolph Dominguez, 57, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. Dominguez will…

Continue reading

Former Social Security Administration Employee Admits to Role in Transnational “Grandparent Scam” Operated from Dominican Republic

December 6, 2024
Law Cards - Legal News Summaries

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man who previously worked as a claims specialist with the U.S. Social Security Administration admitted yesterday to acting as a courier for a Dominican Republic-based “grandparent scam” that targeted elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 39, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty…

Continue reading

Vermont Woman Sentenced for Stealing Social Security Benefits

December 3, 2024
Law Cards - Legal News Summaries

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 2, 2024, Maryann Manning, 63, of Wolcott, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to two years of probation. Chief Judge Reiss also ordered Manning to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration in…

Continue reading

Union County Man Admits COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud

November 27, 2024
Law Cards - Legal News Summaries

NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man today admitted his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Joseph McKeon, aka “Jay McKeon,” 54, of Westfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals in Newark federal court to…

Continue reading

Ringleader Imprisoned for Almost 16 Years After Laundering Millions in Indian Call Center Scam Money

November 26, 2024
Law Cards - Legal News Summaries

HOUSTON – A 39-year-old legal permanent resident (LPR) from India has been sentenced for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Sohil Usmangani Vahora, Des Plaines, Illinois, pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2023. U.S District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered him to serve 188 months in federal…

Continue reading