United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft of Government Funds, False Statement, and Concealment of Information from SSI Program.
Robert Anthony Brannon, age 29, was indicted on Dec. 3, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on Dec. 17, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and up to $300 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between October 2015 and February 2019, Brannon, willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, and purloined money from Title XVI program benefits payments made to himself and his wife. Title XVI is administered by the Social Security Administration.
The Indictment also alleges that on or about Nov. 1, 2018, Brannon knowingly made false statements and representations in a Social Security Administration non-medical review - that is he reported he was not working and earning wages.
Finally, between October 2015 and February 2019, Brannon falsely reported that he was not working and continued to intentionally conceal and fail to disclose his wages, in order to continue to receive and spend SSI benefits payments made by the Social Security Administration to him and his wife.
The charges are merely accusations and Brannon is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration, Cooperative Disability Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Brannon was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
