Menominee Man Sentenced To Prison For Theft Of Government Funds After He Obtained Over $297,000 In Benefits To Which He Was Not Entitled

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

MARQUETTE – Edward Douglas Cornman, 49, of Menominee, Michigan, was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for theft of government funds. He was also ordered to pay $297,768.31 in restitution. Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker imposed the sentence.

Cornman pleaded guilty in June 2021 to lying about his work history and assets to obtain Medicaid benefits. From 2010 to 2019, Cornman failed to disclose his assets and work activities to the Social Security Administration. As a result, he improperly received Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, and other benefits. Over the approximately ten-year period, Cornman received $297,768.31 in benefits from various agencies he was not entitled to receive.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge said, “Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income are programs aimed at the neediest in our society. Protecting those programs from abuse is one of our most important missions. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who abuse federally funded programs and benefits.”

“Mr. Cornman egregiously misused the Federal and State benefits that many people solely rely on to meet their essential needs. He deliberately concealed his property, resources, and earnings from working at his own construction company to fraudulently receive Supplemental Security Income, as well as Medicaid and other benefits,” said Gail S. Ennis Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I thank the Michigan State Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and local law enforcement for their efforts in this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”

The Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Education, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services investigated the case.