Former SSA Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting a Bribe

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

BOSTON - A former Social Security Administration (SSA) employee pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to bribery.

Julio Klapper, 40, of Worcester, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery for accepting a payment in return for submitting a fraudulent claim for payment to the SSA on behalf of a beneficiary.  U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2017.

Between Aug. 30, 2016, and Sept. 27, 2016, Klapper used his position with SSA to submit a request for release of Supplemental Security Income Disabled Child (SSIDC) funds by falsely claiming that the person representing the child was purchasing a car for the benefit of the SSIDC beneficiary, even though Klapper knew that the child’s representative was not intending to purchase a car with the SSIDC funds.  Klapper provided false documentation to the SSA in support of the submitted claim.  In exchange for Klapper’s submission of the false claim and documentation, Klapper received $2,000 from the child’s representative.

“When a federal employee exploits his or her responsibility and authority for personal gain, they violate public trust and harm the Federal workforce and those they serve,” said Adam D. Schneider, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector, General Boston Field Division. “The OIG is committed to pursuing cases of suspected employee fraud and abuse, and I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its efforts to prosecute those who violate the public’s trust.”

“The law requires civil servants to work with honesty and integrity, and the public expects no less,” said Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to hold officials accountable when they abuse their positions of trust.”

“Public corruption investigations, and the charges they produce, send a clear message that law enforcement takes the abuse of authority very seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Etre of HSI Boston. “HSI is proud to work with the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector and looks forward to working cooperatively to aggressively pursue those who attempt to game the system in their favor.”

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or three times the monetary equivalent of the bribe received, whichever is greater. In addition, the defendant may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Weinreb, SSA OIG SAC Schneider, and HSI SAC Etre, made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

 

BOSTON - A former Social Security Administration (SSA) employee pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to bribery.

Julio Klapper, 40, of Worcester, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery for accepting a payment in return for submitting a fraudulent claim for payment to the SSA on behalf of a beneficiary.  U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2017.

Between Aug. 30, 2016, and Sept. 27, 2016, Klapper used his position with SSA to submit a request for release of Supplemental Security Income Disabled Child (SSIDC) funds by falsely claiming that the person representing the child was purchasing a car for the benefit of the SSIDC beneficiary, even though Klapper knew that the child’s representative was not intending to purchase a car with the SSIDC funds.  Klapper provided false documentation to the SSA in support of the submitted claim.  In exchange for Klapper’s submission of the false claim and documentation, Klapper received $2,000 from the child’s representative.

“When a federal employee exploits his or her responsibility and authority for personal gain, they violate public trust and harm the Federal workforce and those they serve,” said Adam D. Schneider, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector, General Boston Field Division. “The OIG is committed to pursuing cases of suspected employee fraud and abuse, and I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its efforts to prosecute those who violate the public’s trust.”

“The law requires civil servants to work with honesty and integrity, and the public expects no less,” said Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to hold officials accountable when they abuse their positions of trust.”

“Public corruption investigations, and the charges they produce, send a clear message that law enforcement takes the abuse of authority very seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Etre of HSI Boston. “HSI is proud to work with the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector and looks forward to working cooperatively to aggressively pursue those who attempt to game the system in their favor.”

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or three times the monetary equivalent of the bribe received, whichever is greater. In addition, the defendant may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Weinreb, SSA OIG SAC Schneider, and HSI SAC Etre, made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.