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Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Prison for Deceased Payee Fraud

April 10, 2018

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

WILKES-BARRE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on April 6, 2018, United States District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo sentenced Steven M. Caravella, age 28, who formerly resided in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, to a time-served sentence of approximately nine months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release for stealing social security benefits paid to his mother by the Social Security Administration.  

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Caravella used a government-issued debit card to obtain the social security benefits for approximately one year after his mother’s death, and before the Social Security Administration was advised of her death.  Caravella obtained approximately $7,762 in benefits between August 2012 and July 2013, as a result of the theft.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General.  Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.

WILKES-BARRE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on April 6, 2018, United States District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo sentenced Steven M. Caravella, age 28, who formerly resided in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, to a time-served sentence of approximately nine months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release for stealing social security benefits paid to his mother by the Social Security Administration.  

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Caravella used a government-issued debit card to obtain the social security benefits for approximately one year after his mother’s death, and before the Social Security Administration was advised of her death.  Caravella obtained approximately $7,762 in benefits between August 2012 and July 2013, as a result of the theft.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General.  Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.

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