The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits to those who have a medical condition that meets the agency ‘s definition of disability and who have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. Qualified beneficiaries who are unable to work for a year or more due to their disability receive a monthly cash benefit to help with expenses until they can transition back to work. A Missouri man who claimed to be disabled was able to steal more than $48,000 in disability benefits he did not deserve while being busy as a bee.
The 33-year-old man in today ‘s “Fraud of the Day” was actually quite active privately and in the public eye. Special investigative agents with the SSA found that the man was actually a real estate broker who founded seven companies, published two books and obtained both a bachelor ‘s and master ‘s degree. (He was also very active in the political realm, although he unsuccessfully ran for several public offices.)
The man who unlawfully collected $48,000 in disability benefits claimed he had not worked in four years. He and his wife also stated that he was not socially active and had no interest in family or friends. (I wonder if his family and friends didn’t actually have any interest in him because he wasn’t telling the truth about his disability, or he just didn’t have any time for them because of all the activities?)
The deceptive businessman pleaded guilty to four counts of theft of government funds and was sentenced to five years of probation. He was also ordered to repay $48,835.60. (The punishment could have been worse, but the real sting is that it looks like this man is going to have to transition off of government support and earn a legitimate paycheck.)
Source: Today’s “Fraud of the Day” is based on an article entitled, “St. Charles County businessman gets probation for disability fraud,” published by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch on September 19, 2016.
Eugene Dokes, a businessman, real estate broker, author and former Republican official in St. Charles County, was sentenced Monday to five years probation for falsely claiming to be disabled to reap $48,000 in disability benefits, prosecutors said.
Dokes, 33, was also ordered to repay $45,835.60.
