Bellevue Man Nabbed for 23-Year Social Security Scam

BELLEVUE, WA – A brazen scheme to siphon government funds for over two decades has landed a former Bellevue resident in federal prison. RAYMOND C. O’DELL, 70, now of Arizona, was sentenced today for defrauding the Social Security Administration after his mother’s death in 1989. He received six months in prison, six months of home detention, a $20,000 fine, and must pay $188,436 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan didn’t mince words, stating, “Cheaters shred the safety net for those that really need it.” The prosecution revealed O’DELL continued to collect his mother’s benefits for 23 years, even going so far as to provide false information to the Social Security Administration to perpetuate the fraud. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart emphasized the “decades of criminal behavior” warranted a prison sentence, despite O’DELL’s claimed success in other ventures.

The scam unravelled in May 2012 when a Social Security representative attempted to contact O’DELL’s mother. O’DELL, caught off guard, falsely claimed she was visiting a neighbor. Instead of rectifying the situation, he contacted an attorney who alerted the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The depth of O’DELL’s dishonesty extended beyond Social Security; he’s also facing sentencing in Ohio for fraudulently collecting $100,000 in pension benefits from the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.

O’DELL isn’t alone. Federal authorities have been cracking down on similar schemes in the Western District of Washington. PATTY BUCHANAN, 57, received 18 months in prison in June 2013 after collecting $239,083 in benefits for 19 years after her father’s death in 1993. Buchanan forged documents and used a male friend to impersonate her father to continue the ruse. DENNIS JAY GORIN, 76, of Eatonville, also engaged in a similar scheme, collecting roughly $100,000 after his mother’s death around 2003, and chillingly, personally disposed of her body on rural property.

The O’DELL case is part of a broader initiative that has resulted in over $1 million in restitution ordered by courts in this district. These prosecutions send a clear message: exploiting the Social Security system isn’t a victimless crime, and those who attempt it will face serious consequences. Durkan warned, “Those who might be tempted to cheat the government of these funds need to know prison and hefty fines wait at the end of the scheme.”

Federal investigators continue to pursue leads and encourage anyone with information about potential Social Security fraud to contact the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. The relentless pursuit of these cases underscores a commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of vital government programs. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

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