Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Concealing Mother's Death, Deceased Payee Fraud

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida:

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Brian Lee Adams (57, Jacksonville) to five years and four months in federal prison for theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. As part of the sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $33,292.36, the proceeds of the offenses. Adams pleaded guilty on October 31, 2016.

According to court documents, Adams’s mother died in an unknown manner some time before July 4, 2014. To conceal her death and to ensure that he could continue to receive her Social Security and pension benefits, Adams buried his mother in the backyard of her residence in Green Cove Springs, Florida. He received and used those benefits until authorities received a tip and discovered his mother’s body in June 2015.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

 

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Brian Lee Adams (57, Jacksonville) to five years and four months in federal prison for theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. As part of the sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $33,292.36, the proceeds of the offenses. Adams pleaded guilty on October 31, 2016.

According to court documents, Adams’s mother died in an unknown manner some time before July 4, 2014. To conceal her death and to ensure that he could continue to receive her Social Security and pension benefits, Adams buried his mother in the backyard of her residence in Green Cove Springs, Florida. He received and used those benefits until authorities received a tip and discovered his mother’s body in June 2015.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.