Virginia Man Found Guilty of Stealing from SSA

A Roanoke, Va., man who failed to report earned income to the Social Security Administration (SSA) pled guilty this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Lynchburg to charges that he stole from the SSA. Risden Richardson, 52, of Roanoke, Va., waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty this morning to a one count Information charging him with theft of government money. “Social Security provides an important safety net for disabled and retired individuals in Virginia and across the country,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “Mr. Richardson lied to the Social Security Administration and stole money from the system, claiming disability while he continued to work. This office will continue to vigorously pursue fraud against the government in all forms and bring offenders like Mr. Richardson to justice.” According to evidence presented by Assistant United States Attorney Charlene Day, Richardson began receiving $1,348 in monthly disability payments in October 1998 for a back disorder. SSA policy states that persons receiving disability payments cannot earn over $1,000 per month or work over 80 hours per month. Richardson admitted today that he failed to report to the SSA that while he was receiving disability benefits he was working as a contractor driving a tractor trailer long distance for a local transportation company. Records show that between 2002 and 2010 Richards earned a total of $1,373,375 from his work as a truck driver and worked more than 80 hours per month. This information was never reported to the SSA. The investigation of the case was conducted by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services and United States Department of Transportation. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene Day is prosecuting the case for the United States. Source: http://www2.wsls.com/news/2012/apr/24/roanoke-man-guilty-stealing-social-security-ar-1865436/