Pittsburgh Man Charged with Defrauding SSA

From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania:

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of government money, Social Security fraud, and Social Security representative payee misuse, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The four-count Indictment, returned June 4, named John Robert Mahoney, 53, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment presented to the court, from October 2015 to December, 2017, Mahoney, while acting as a representative payee for a beneficiary, converted to his own use over $1,000 in Title XVI Social Security benefits. Mahoney is further alleged to have falsely represented to the Social Security Administration that the beneficiary was residing with him and to have failed to disclose that the beneficiary was not residing with him. Additionally, the Indictment alleges that from October 2015 to April 2018, Mahoney converted Title II Social Security benefits intended for the use and benefit of another.

For the offense of theft of government property, the law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. For each offense of Social Security fraud and Social Security representative payee misuse, the law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney David Lew is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.<p align="left"> From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania: </p>

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of government money, Social Security fraud, and Social Security representative payee misuse, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The four-count Indictment, returned June 4, named John Robert Mahoney, 53, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment presented to the court, from October 2015 to December, 2017, Mahoney, while acting as a representative payee for a beneficiary, converted to his own use over $1,000 in Title XVI Social Security benefits. Mahoney is further alleged to have falsely represented to the Social Security Administration that the beneficiary was residing with him and to have failed to disclose that the beneficiary was not residing with him. Additionally, the Indictment alleges that from October 2015 to April 2018, Mahoney converted Title II Social Security benefits intended for the use and benefit of another.

For the offense of theft of government property, the law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. For each offense of Social Security fraud and Social Security representative payee misuse, the law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney David Lew is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.