The Post Millennial, citing a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release, reports that federal prosecutors charged 17 individuals in alleged schemes to take more than $1.3 million in Social Security benefits, including payments tied to deceased or disabled beneficiaries.
What prosecutors allegedly uncovered
According to the outlet, charges filed on Tuesday include allegations that some defendants kept withdrawing benefits after a relative died or diverted payments intended for disabled family members.
Two cases cited in the report
The article says DOJ alleges David Darling of New York used his deceased brother’s ATM card to withdraw funds the day after the death, continuing until more than $109,740 had been taken before authorities intervened.
It also reports that Laura Whisenant of Michigan, who served as a representative payee for her mentally disabled uncle, allegedly diverted nearly $121,000 of his benefits over seven years; the DOJ is described in the article as calling his living conditions “inhumane.”
Quotes attributed to DOJ
The Post Millennial article attributes the following statements to Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, described as leading the DOJ’s fraud division: “The Social Security Administration’s benefits programs are meant to safeguard America’s elderly and most vulnerable – not to bankroll fraudsters,” and, “Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from a retiree’s medicine, meals, or housing.”
The article also quotes McDonald as saying these cases “represent just a fraction of the fraud we are aggressively pursuing every day.”
Context noted by the outlet
The report links the 17 indictments to a newly formed DOJ fraud division under the Trump administration, characterizing the action as part of a broader crackdown on theft from federal benefits programs.
What’s next
All descriptions above reflect allegations reported by The Post Millennial. Criminal charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
