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Son steals father’s Social Security for almost three decades

A Fairfield, Connecticut, man was jailed for stealing more than $300,000 in Social Security payments, reports Fairfield Citizen.

He has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for the theft of his dead father’s Social Security payments, which were paid automatically into his father’s account.

He plead guilty to one count of theft of government property in January and was sentenced by a chief  U.S. district judge in Hartford on Thursday.

In addition to prison and supervised release, the man has to make full restitution of the stolen money; he has already restored over 10 percent of the money or $38,000.  He was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General,

The man’s father had begun receiving monthly Social Security benefits in 1974. Then he died in August, 1982. From then until August 2011, the son continued to receive and use the monthly payments meant for his father.

In 1997, the son even contacted the Social Security Administration to provide a change of address for his father so that the agency could continue to send his father’s benefits.

During a span of 30 years, the son received $307,925 in Social Security payments intended for this father.

If you or someone you know needs help with disability benefit claims, contact the disability lawyers at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin.

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