Kentucky Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid Fraud

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Cave City, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court, by District Judge Greg N. Stivers, to 42 months in prison, and ordered to pay restitution of $24,884.80 to the Social Security Administration and $81,831.27 to the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services, the victim agencies, for defrauding the Supplemental Security Income program, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.           

“Safeguarding programs designed to help those in need is a priority of my office,” stated U.S. Attorney Kuhn. “Defendant Thompson committed a crime when he failed to report income and falsely misrepresented his mental condition in order to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.  He was neither qualified to receive benefits nor should he have received benefits.”

Between August 2009 and April 2013, Gary Hank Thompson, 34, made misrepresentations in order to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits from the Social Security Administration in the amount of $24,884.80, to which he was not entitled. Supplemental Security Income is a federal government program that provides benefits to individuals who are disabled and have limited income and resources.

 In his initial application for Supplemental Security Income, Thompson also applied for Medicaid, and during the same period, obtained $81,831.27 in Medicaid benefits.

At various points, including during the initial field interview with Social Security Administration personnel in August 2009, and during the April 15, 2013, redetermination meeting with Social Security Administration personnel in Warren County, Kentucky, defendant Thompson falsely represented his mental condition by slowing his speech and stuttering, and generally saying and doing things to make it seem that he had issues with comprehension, when he did not. Defendant misrepresented his mental condition in this way to qualify for benefits and to continue qualifying for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Thompson’s misrepresentations of his mental condition were material to whether he would receive Supplemental Security Income benefits, as he initially qualified under “organic mental disorders.” When the Social Security Administration was provided with accurate information concerning the Defendant’s mental condition, it reevaluated whether he qualified for Supplemental Security Income and determined he did not.

Additionally, the Defendant made material omissions and misstatements regarding his income and resources, which affected his eligibility for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda E. Gregory and was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Cave City, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court, by District Judge Greg N. Stivers, to 42 months in prison, and ordered to pay restitution of $24,884.80 to the Social Security Administration and $81,831.27 to the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services, the victim agencies, for defrauding the Supplemental Security Income program, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.           

“Safeguarding programs designed to help those in need is a priority of my office,” stated U.S. Attorney Kuhn. “Defendant Thompson committed a crime when he failed to report income and falsely misrepresented his mental condition in order to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.  He was neither qualified to receive benefits nor should he have received benefits.”

Between August 2009 and April 2013, Gary Hank Thompson, 34, made misrepresentations in order to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits from the Social Security Administration in the amount of $24,884.80, to which he was not entitled. Supplemental Security Income is a federal government program that provides benefits to individuals who are disabled and have limited income and resources.

 In his initial application for Supplemental Security Income, Thompson also applied for Medicaid, and during the same period, obtained $81,831.27 in Medicaid benefits.

At various points, including during the initial field interview with Social Security Administration personnel in August 2009, and during the April 15, 2013, redetermination meeting with Social Security Administration personnel in Warren County, Kentucky, defendant Thompson falsely represented his mental condition by slowing his speech and stuttering, and generally saying and doing things to make it seem that he had issues with comprehension, when he did not. Defendant misrepresented his mental condition in this way to qualify for benefits and to continue qualifying for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Thompson’s misrepresentations of his mental condition were material to whether he would receive Supplemental Security Income benefits, as he initially qualified under “organic mental disorders.” When the Social Security Administration was provided with accurate information concerning the Defendant’s mental condition, it reevaluated whether he qualified for Supplemental Security Income and determined he did not.

Additionally, the Defendant made material omissions and misstatements regarding his income and resources, which affected his eligibility for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda E. Gregory and was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.