Office of the Inspector General, SSA
Social Security Administration
Maryland Man Charged for Stealing Social Security Survivors Benefits From His Children
A Finksburg man has been charged for stealing Social Security Survivors benefits from his children following his ex-wife’s death.
Donnie Joe Goodman Jr., 43, was charged with four counts of theft from $1,000 to $10,000, four counts of embezzling through misappropriation and one count of theft scheme from $1,000 to $10,000. How much money was stolen is unknown, due to the sealed statement of charges.
Electronic court records allege Goodman stole from his children from June 2011 until December 2011. While court records show Goodman’s address as the 2000 block of Lawndale Road in Finksburg, his defense attorney said his current address is on the 2400 block of Old Westminster Pike.
At Goodman’s bail review Monday, prosecutor Adam Wells said that after Goodman’s ex-wife died, the four children were entitled to Social Security Survivors benefits. They live full-time with their maternal grandparents, and Goodman was not the primary custodian of the children, Wells said.
Goodman’s warrant was issued Sept. 21, and his bail was set at $5,000 at Monday’s hearing in Carroll County Circuit Court. Defense attorney Stephanie Salter asked presiding Judge J. Barry Hughes to set his bail at a lower rate due to his employment.
Goodman’s prior record shows he failed to appear for court three times, Wells said. He also had three charges against him in 2011, Wells said, which was his main reasoning for asking Hughes to hold Goodman.
“This is not someone who shows up when he’s supposed to,” Wells said.
Goodman and his wife, Michelle, both spoke at his bail review to ask Hughes to take his gainful employment into consideration. Donnie Goodman explained his missing court dates to Hughes, and said he wanted to be able to put the situation behind him.
“Without him at home, I don’t know what our family’s going to do,” Michelle Goodman said to Hughes.
Hughes set the bail at $5,000 with 10 percent to be accepted, or $500.
His trial is scheduled for Jan. 9, according to electronic court records.
