A Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania resident has been sentenced for stealing government funds, according to an announcement from First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. Nicholas T. Grimes, 31, received a sentence of three years’ probation and seven days of intermittent confinement following his conviction for theft of government property.
The sentencing was delivered by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Court records indicate that after the death of a recipient of Title II Social Security benefits, Grimes began unlawfully taking the deceased individual’s Social Security retirement payments starting in 2014. The total amount stolen reached approximately $216,779, with Grimes accessing the funds through ATM transactions from the deceased’s account.
Grimes has been ordered to pay full restitution of $216,779 to the Social Security Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci. First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti stated: "First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Grimes."
