Bridgeport Man Admits Role in Scheme that Defrauded Social Security Administration

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

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Boston – New York Field Division, announced that TROVOY DIXON, 31, of Bridgeport, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to an offense stemming from his role in a scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2021, unidentified fraudsters engaged in a scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration (SSA) using stolen identities.  The fraudsters would contact the SSA posing as legitimate Social Security recipients, often presenting the SSA with confidential personal information, like Social Security numbers and dates of birth, to validate their purported identities.  They would then instruct the SSA to change the legitimate SSA recipients’ existing bank account deposit information so that monthly SSA payments would be deposited into bank accounts controlled by scheme participants.

In approximately August 2021, Dixon was contacted by phone by a scheme participant using a Jamaican based telephone number and was asked if he wished to make money through moving money.  Dixon agreed, and was instructed to open bank accounts that he would control.  After monies generated from the scheme were deposited into Dixon’s online bank accounts, he would withdraw cash from the accounts and use commercial money transfer services to wire a portion of the cash to designated bank accounts in either Jamaica or Mexico.  Dixon admitted that he consciously avoided learning the monies were illegally obtained, although in time he knew them to be, and ultimately kept close to half of the monies for his personal use.

Between August 2021 and July 2023, more than $300,000 was deposited into bank accounts Dixon controlled.  When accounts were closed due to suspicious fraudulent withdrawal activity, Dixon opened additional accounts to continue his illegal activity.

Dixon pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  He has agreed to make restitution of $161,000.

Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for June 30.  Dixon is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.