From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts: BOSTON – A Belchertown man was arrested yesterday in connection with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits. Kenneth Pontz, 58, was charged with one count of theft of public funds. Pontz was released on conditions following an initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Springfield before U.S.…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey: TRENTON, N.J. – A Hanahan, South Carolina, woman was sentenced to 28 months in prison for defrauding the government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Social Security and Medicare benefits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Martha Aguilar, 60, formerly of Middletown, New Jersey,…

From the New York State Attorney General: NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the guilty plea of Anthony Ragusa, 52, formerly of Huntington, NY, for fraudulently collecting more than $200,000 in disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) charged that from 2013…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota: United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Spearfish, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft of Government Funds was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier. Christi Marie Johnson, age 37, was sentenced to five years of probation, $16,594.50 in…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of West Virginia: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mingo County woman pleaded guilty today to theft of government benefits and making materially false statements to federal agents. According to court documents and statements made in court, Diana Cisco, 69, of Delbarton, admitted that she received Social Security Administration (SSA)…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus woman was arrested in Utah on federal charges related to stealing the identity of a baby who died as an infant. The woman allegedly used the infant’s identity to obtain a passport, a student pilot license, a job as a flight…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California: A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment Thursday against Marcus Asay, 66, of Fresno, charging him with making false tax returns, and concealing a matter with an intent to fraudulently secure Social Security disability benefits, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents,…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey: NEWARK, N.J. – A dual New York and Florida resident was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $6.8 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Gregory J. Blotnick,…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Danielle Tooley, 37, of Batavia, NY, pleaded guilty to wire fraud before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S.…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOHN EDWARD JONES, age 42, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. According to court documents, beginning around July 2015 and…