Timmy S. Stephens has been sentenced for stealing money intended as disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. For approximately 20 years, Stephens claimed that he was disabled in order to receive benefits all while he worked at a local funeral home.
The evidence uncovered during the investigation showed that Stephens began receiving disability benefits due to a cardiac condition in or about August 2002. At that time and regularly thereafter, the Social Security Administration (SSA) informed him that if his condition improved or if he returned to work, he must report any change in his condition or work activity to the SSA. Despite notice of these reporting requirements, Stephens began working at a local funeral home in January 2003 and did not report the work activity to SSA. Instead, to conceal his work activity from SSA, Stephens arranged with the funeral home for his earnings to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service using a relative’s social security number.
He was sentenced to nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $5,500 and restitution in the amount of $126,560. Stephens pleaded guilty last October.