Office of the Inspector General, SSA
Social Security Administration
Pennsylvania Man Convicted on Charge of Stealing $38,000 in Benefits from SSA
Date:
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Management Issue:
Office Affiliation:
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Steven Prejean, 56, of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, was convicted yesterday of stealing approximately $38,000 in benefits from the Social Security Administration. After a two-day trial in Harrisburg before United States Senior District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, a Middle District of Pennsylvania jury took little more than an hour to find Prejean guilty on the single charge.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the evidence at trial established that in July 2005, Prejean moved from California to Pennsylvania and got married. Because Prejean failed to report both the move and the marriage to the Social Security Administration as required by law, he received $38,158.23 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Prejean now faces up to ten years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Wesley P. Page.
