Pocatello man pleads guilty to social security fraud in federal court
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The following is a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Idaho
POCATELLO — Timmy Adam Allen, 51, pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud on Thursday, Jan. 28. U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson said the Pocatello man was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on August 11, according to a news release.
The plea agreement shows Allen admitted that in February 2012, he applied for Social Security benefits for his son and requested to be the representative payee. As part of the application, the defendant falsely represented that his son lived with him. In reliance on that application and the false statement it contained, the Social Security Administration determined the son was eligible for benefits and appointed Allen as the representative payee.
From on or about Feb. 9, 2012, through on or about July 3, 2014, the defendant received $21,681 in Social Security benefits for his son. The defendant did not spend any of the money on his son or conserve it for his future use. Instead, the defendant took the $21,681 and spent it on himself.
The charge of Social Security fraud is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for March 29, 2016, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Power County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney as part of a partnership venture between the Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute Social Security fraud.