U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins | U.S. Department of Justice
Robert Anthony Monsen, a 49-year-old resident of Herriman, Utah, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for fraudulently collecting disability benefits over a span of more than 13 years. The sentence was handed down by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart and includes three years of supervised release. Monsen has also been ordered to pay restitution exceeding $561,000 to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicare.
Monsen pleaded guilty in September 2024 to charges related to theft of public money, property, or records. According to court documents and statements made during his plea and sentencing hearings, Monsen claimed severe back injuries from September 2010 to November 2023 that he said left him unable to work. Despite these claims, he worked in various roles including bail bonds, security, and restaurant businesses while concealing his income through an LLC registered under another individual's name.
The court found that Monsen continued receiving Title II Disability benefits at a rate of $1,981 per month until November 2023 without reporting any improvement in his condition. In total, he unlawfully obtained over $561,050 in federal funds intended for individuals genuinely unable to work due to medical conditions.
“Mr. Monsen not only fraudulently obtained over half a million dollars from taxpayers but he took benefits reserved from individuals who cannot work due to a severe medical condition,” stated U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “Protecting the community and vulnerable populations is a priority for my office and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice through prosecution.”
Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for SSA remarked on the significance of the case: “This 18-month prison sentence was based on Mr. Monson’s deceitful and criminal scheme to defraud SSA. Social Security disability insurance benefits are vital to individuals and their families who qualify to receive them. My office will continue to protect these essential benefits by pursuing perpetrators.”
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration's Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit with Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachiko J. Jepson prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
