Fraudsters who target government benefit programs often think that they are entitled to receive assistance even though they do not qualify. (When they don’t get what they want, they will often seek revenge by stealing benefits from others who actually deserve them.) A Wisconsin man, who made the mistake of boasting about the illegal government benefits he received, is now experiencing backlash from his illegal actions.
The man was a dump truck operator who worked between 50 and 60 hours per week on state road projects. (He collected Social Security disability payments while operating heavy machinery a big ”no-no.” The Social Security Administration (SSA) has some strict rules on working while receiving government benefits.)
Authorities discovered from witnesses that the defendant often bragged about receiving the fraudulent disability payments touting that ”this was his payback.” (Well it looks like the justice system had the last word on his entitlement attitude.)
The 58-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge of theft of government property. While being sentenced, the judge cautioned the criminal on the serious nature of the crime and brought attention to the man’s dismissive attitude regarding his illegal actions. The perpetrator received a 16-month prison sentence plus two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay approximately $130,000 in restitution to the SSA and Medicare. (Lesson learned: If you defraud the U.S. Government, paybacks for illegal acts can be painful.)
Source: Today’s ”Fraud of the Day” is based on a Department of Justice press release entitled, ”Green Bay Man Sentenced for Social Security Disability Fraud,” released on October 7, 2016.
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Randall J. Frisque (age: 58) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced to federal prison by Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach. Frisque had previously entered a guilty plea to a charge of theft of government property in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 641.
According to the plea agreement and other documents filed with the court, Frisque was a dump truck operator on state road projects working between 50 and 60 hours a week while continuing to collect Social Security Disability payments. Witnesses told authorities that Frisque often bragged about his receipt of the fraudulent payments, telling them ”this was his payback.”
