Timmy S. Stephens from Villa Rica has been sentenced for stealing disability benefits from the Social Security Administration over a period of approximately 20 years. Despite claiming to be disabled, Stephens was employed at a local funeral home.
"Stephens perpetrated a two-decades long fraud on the Social Security Administration," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. "The disability program is a wage replacement program for those members of our society who cannot work due to a physical or mental health condition. Stealing benefits from the Social Security trust fund betrays the Social Security Administration and the people the program is designed to help."
Evidence presented in court revealed that Stephens began receiving disability benefits in August 2002 due to a cardiac condition. He was informed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that any improvement in his condition or return to work must be reported. However, he started working at a funeral home in January 2003 without notifying SSA and arranged for his earnings to be reported under a relative’s social security number.
The SSA discovered this scheme along with Stephen's employment activities, leading him to submit false reports claiming unemployment since 2001. When federal agents interviewed him, Stephens lied about his work activity and produced falsified time sheets intended for law enforcement.
In total, Stephens wrongfully received over $360,000 in disability benefits while being capable of working. He has been sentenced to nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $5,500 in fines and $126,560.50 in restitution after pleading guilty on October 17, 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General with Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane C Schulman prosecuting.
For further information contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. More details can be found on their website: http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
