Social Security and Disability Law

Man Indicted for Decades-long Fraud of Veteran’s Benefits, Identity Theft

February 27, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Washington Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted Raymond Kenneth Musgrove, formerly of Grant County, Washington, for fraud in connection with benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs…

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Punxsutawney Woman Indicted on Social Security Fraud Charges

February 23, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of theft of government funds, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment named Patty Merlo, 65, as the sole defendant. According…

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Middlesex County Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Role in COVID-19 Fraud Schemes Totaling Over $2.1 Million

February 21, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for his role in fraudulently obtaining over $2.1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Arlen…

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Anchorage Woman Sentenced to Prison for Social Security Fraud

February 20, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage woman was sentenced to nine months in prison for stealing and misusing Social Security benefits. According to court documents, Jayel Jean Lane, 34, applied for Social Security benefits on behalf of a minor in 2013. She received benefits for the minor from…

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St. Louis County Woman Admits Helping Her Son Fake a Disability

February 16, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis County, Missouri on Thursday admitted helping her son fake a mental disability for more than 13 years so he could receive government benefits. Zella Rives, 57, of Edmundson, admitted in a plea agreement and in court that she…

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N.C. Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds and Making a False Statement in a Passport Application

February 15, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gayle Smith Gay, 75, of Huntersville, N.C., was sentenced to five years of probation with 240 days of home confinement after pleading guilty theft of government funds and making a false statement in an application for a passport. Evidence presented to the court showed…

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Sioux City Man Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds

February 15, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Steven M. Woodall, 64, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, was sentenced February 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for theft of government funds. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Woodall to four years of…

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Monroe County Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison After Concealing Father’s Death, Disposing of His Remains to Steal Social Security and Pension Benefits

February 14, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Timothy Gritman, 56, of Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cynthia Rufe to 60 months’ incarceration and three years of supervised release for a fraud scheme in which he concealed his father’s death…

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Two Landover Hills Brothers Indicted for an Alleged Lottery Scheme that Defrauded Victims of More Than $3.5 Million

February 14, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging brothers Dwayne and Wayne Henry, age 32 and 34, respectively, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in connection with a lottery scheme where victims believe that they have won…

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Schenectady Woman Indicted on Social Security Fraud Charges

February 14, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York ALBANY, NEW YORK – AnnMarie Ditoro, age 41, of Schenectady, New York, was indicted earlier this month on charges of social security fraud.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Sharon B. MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the…

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