Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Lynn resident, James C. Burdulis, was charged on Mar. 13 in federal court in Boston with receiving stolen Social Security benefits and making false statements.
The case is significant because it involves allegations of theft of government funds intended for beneficiaries and potential misuse of the Social Security system.
According to the charging document, Burdulis, age 56, allegedly received about $63,959 in stolen Social Security benefits from June 2019 through June 2025. He is also accused of submitting a fraudulent representative payee report to the Social Security Administration in June 2024. The document alleges that Burdulis claimed he spent the funds on behalf of a beneficiary during 2023 and 2024, but that individual had died several years earlier in 2019.
The charge for receiving stolen government money or property carries a possible sentence of up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The false statements charge could result in up to five years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a similar fine amount. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge at the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General for Boston Field Division announced the charges. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg from the Major Crimes Unit will prosecute this case.
Authorities emphasize that "the details contained in the charging document are allegations" and that "the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
