govt is too lazy to prosecute ss theft, Edgar Ariza, plantation, FL stole his dead father's ssi for 7 years. Govt may not prosecute only because the theft is only $40,000.
May 23, 2005 (Press Release) --
Edgar Ariza never reported his father's death to the
Social Security Administration. Whatever documents that Social Security
Disability sent to the Ariza household to update the status of Jose's disability were apparently completed and returned to Social Security Disability, ensuring the continuity of payments.
The son moved to Broward County, Florida in 2000 and continued receiving the directly deposited funds; bank statements were mailed to him from the Massachusetts bank.
Special Agent Rick Montero of the Office of the Inspector General, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, obtained the original death certificate and copies of bank statements demonstrating seven years direct deposits of these funds. Special Agent Montero reportedly stated that the crime might possibly be ignored because the theft was only a total sum of $40,000, as opposed to the threshold sum of $50,000. He indicated that $50,000 was the benchmark for prosecution, whereas $40,000 may not really be enough to warrant criminal prosecution.
Reports of this allegation of Social Security fraud were leaked to Congressman Robert Wexler, (D-19th District, Florida), who made attempts to investigate the status of this fraud and up until now has been denied information
Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr., who has represented South Florida in the U.S.House of Representatives since 1981, was also advised of this most egregious case of fraud, but to date, Shaw has declined to take any interest.
Shaw's website claims that Shaw is the foremost watchdog of social security affairs. Direct quote from Shaw's website:
"After 25 years in Congress, Mr. Shaw is the second most senior Republican on the Committee on Ways and Means. Before ascending to the Trade Subcommittee in 2005, Congressman Shaw was the Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee. Since January 1999, Mr. Shaw has been one of seniors'
and Social Security's greatest advocates, spearheading Congressional efforts to save our nation's sacred contract between it's [sic] citizens and their federal government. Clay Shaw is one of the leading voices in Congress for Social Security Reform”
According to the official U.S. Government Social Security website, the maximum sentence for converting money belonging to the United States is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of concealing information from the Social Security Administration carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"The viability of our social security system depends, in part, on individuals not defrauding the system," said U. S. Attorney Alice H.
Martin. "When a social security recipient dies it is incumbent on the family to notice the Social Security Administration of this death and not to cash checks made payable to the deceased."
Ariza, currently a resident of Plantation, Florida, in Broward County, is employed by Bellsouth.
Edgar Ariza never reported his father's death to the
Social Security Administration. Whatever documents that Social Security
Disability sent to the Ariza household to update the status of Jose's disability were apparently completed and returned to Social Security Disability, ensuring the continuity of payments.
The son moved to Broward County, Florida in 2000 and continued receiving the directly deposited funds; bank statements were mailed to him from the Massachusetts bank.
Special Agent Rick Montero of the Office of the Inspector General, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, obtained the original death certificate and copies of bank statements demonstrating seven years direct deposits of these funds. Special Agent Montero reportedly stated that the crime might possibly be ignored because the theft was only a total sum of $40,000, as opposed to the threshold sum of $50,000. He indicated that $50,000 was the benchmark for prosecution, whereas $40,000 may not really be enough to warrant criminal prosecution.
Reports of this allegation of Social Security fraud were leaked to Congressman Robert Wexler, (D-19th District, Florida), who made attempts to investigate the status of this fraud and up until now has been denied information
Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr., who has represented South Florida in the U.S.House of Representatives since 1981, was also advised of this most egregious case of fraud, but to date, Shaw has declined to take any interest.
Shaw's website claims that Shaw is the foremost watchdog of social security affairs. Direct quote from Shaw's website:
"After 25 years in Congress, Mr. Shaw is the second most senior Republican on the Committee on Ways and Means. Before ascending to the Trade Subcommittee in 2005, Congressman Shaw was the Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee. Since January 1999, Mr. Shaw has been one of seniors'
and Social Security's greatest advocates, spearheading Congressional efforts to save our nation's sacred contract between it's [sic] citizens and their federal government. Clay Shaw is one of the leading voices in Congress for Social Security Reform”
According to the official U.S. Government Social Security website, the maximum sentence for converting money belonging to the United States is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of concealing information from the Social Security Administration carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"The viability of our social security system depends, in part, on individuals not defrauding the system," said U. S. Attorney Alice H.
Martin. "When a social security recipient dies it is incumbent on the family to notice the Social Security Administration of this death and not to cash checks made payable to the deceased."
Ariza, currently a resident of Plantation, Florida, in Broward County, is employed by Bellsouth.
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