From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Erlin Maradiaga-Flores (31, Honduras) today pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.  Maradiaga-Flores faces a penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, E-Verify…

Dear Chairmen Wyden and Smith, Ranking Members Crapo and Neal: Today marks my final day as I retire as Inspector General of the Social Security Administration (SSA). I want to thank President Donald J. Trump for nominating me for this position and the U.S. Senate for confirming me. Since I was sworn in on January…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis County, Missouri man who financially exploited two elderly women while committing disability fraud to 87 months in prison and ordered him to repay more than $1.1 million.  Gino Rives, 36, of…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Wisconsin MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David Beyer, 66, Janesville, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson, to 3 years of probation for theft of social security retirement benefits. Beyer…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man is alleged to have acted as a courier for a Dominican Republic-based “grandparent scam” that targeted elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 39, of the Bronx, New York, was charged by a federal grand jury with one count of wire…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Vermont Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Maryann Manning, 63, of Wolcott, Vermont, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court in Burlington to fraudulently converting tens of thousands of dollars in Social Security benefit payments. Chief U.S. District Judge…

Northville, Michigan – Over the next few years, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to spend approximately $130.1 billion on research and development. The world is rapidly changing and the U.S. is facing a different kind of adversary that inhabits the cyberworld and launches attacks on the nation. The main focus over the next three…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California LOS ANGELES – A former college football player and Orange County man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a scheme that fraudulently sought more than $1 million and obtained more than $280,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits. Abdul-Malik McClain, 24, most recently of Coto de Caza, pleaded guilty…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana SHREVEPORT– United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Edward L. Angel, Sr., 71, of Shreveport, has been sentenced for theft of government funds and making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Angel to 3 years of…

Download a PDF of this Scam Alert Scammers are circulating misinformation around a $600 fake Social Security benefit increase that they are alleging will be issued in June 2024. Any information regarding a current $600 increase is false and should be ignored. SSA will announce a new COLA in October, if it applies. The COLA…