Noteboom The Law Firm

Immigrant Charged with Fraud Against SSA

Most cases in which fraud was committed against the Social Security Administration command little sympathy. However, while stealing from the SSA is never the answer and is subject to criminal prosecution when discovered, some cases are not so cut and dry. In fact some might invoke more understanding than others.

According to the Washington Examiner, a 59-year-old Washington, DC area resident who is originally from Afghanistan stole about $111,000 from the SSA. This occurred over a period of seven years. In 1990, he began receiving Social Security disability benefits after suffering an injury at work. The money was rightfully his, and he appeared to follow the general rules for disability until 1999.

That year, he got a job but did not report it to the SSA. Clearly, he would have stopped receiving benefits had he reported the income, so he held off on reporting it until 2006. Instead, he used his brother's Social Security number to keep the government from finding out about his job until he officially reported it in 2006.

When questioned why he would do this for seven years when he knew it was wrong, it was determined that the reason was that he was trying to pay his family's medical and monthly bills. Before he was formally charged, he had plans to pay the money back. Now he will not only have to return the $111,000, but also spend six months in prison.

Of course there is never a good excuse for fraud, especially when it affects so many people. However, because of this man's intention to support his family rather than spend it on frivolous items, his lawyer recommended that he not have to spend time in prison. Evidently that request failed in this case, since the judge determined that prison time was necessary to teach him a lesson.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida disability lawyers, LaVan & Neidenberg, represent over 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining agency-appointed medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your disability claim. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.