Liverpool Man Indicted for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Decade Long Social Security Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York

Zvonko Klapan, age 68, of Liverpool NY was arraigned Friday in Binghamton, NY before Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric on multiple counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and theft of government property.  A grand jury indicted Klapan on June 18, 2026.  This action is part of an ongoing effort of the Trump Administration’s Fraud Task Force aimed at eliminating fraud across the country.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, Boston/New York Field Division, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) made the announcement.

The indictment alleges that Klapan’s mother-in-law passed away in 2016, that the Social Security Administration was not informed of the death, and that Klapan converted her social security benefits checks to his own use for nearly ten years.  Between August 2016 and September 2025, Klapan forged his mother-in-law’s signature on monthly SSA benefits checks and deposited them into his own bank account.  According to the indictment, Social Security switched from paper checks to direct deposit only in September 2025.  Klapan then continued his scheme by posing online as his dead mother-in-law to apply for and arrange direct wire transfer deposits of social security benefits checks to his personal bank account from September 2025 until April 2026.  The indictment alleges that Klapan defrauded the program of more than $142,400.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“This defendant is finally facing justice after ten years of fraud, during which he stole, and forged Social Security benefits checks intended for his deceased mother‑in‑law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone.  “He then brazenly expanded the scheme by using her name to apply online for direct deposit payments from the Social Security Administration into his own bank account. My office remains committed to uncovering and prosecuting fraudulent schemes like this that callously divert resources from legitimate surviving beneficiaries.”

“Allegedly exploiting a deceased beneficiary’s identity for personal gain over a decade is a deliberate theft from a program that millions of vulnerable Americans rely on,” said Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Boston–New York Field-Philadelphia Division. “Together with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners, SSA OIG will continue pursuing those who steal taxpayer dollars through fraud and identity theft, regardless of how long they attempt to evade detection.”

The charges filed against Klapan include a maximum term of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud counts, up to 10 years for theft of government property, and a mandatory 2 years for Aggravated Identity Theft.  Klapan may also be ordered to pay restitution to the government.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. 

A jury trial is currently scheduled for September 21, 2026 before Chief Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse.

SSA-OIG is investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Arne F. Soldwedel.