A Caroline County couple has pleaded guilty to stealing over $265,700 in Social Security disability benefits. Josephine D. Wright, and her husband, James B. Wright, both age 55, of Greensboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty to theft of government property arising from a scheme to steal the benefits.
According to their guilty pleas, in 1993, James Wright applied for and began receiving Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability benefits for himself and his children based on his inability to work due to a mental impairment and head injury. Josephine Wright was designated as his representative payee, responsible for reporting any changes that could affect his eligibility for benefits.
No later than January 1998, James Wright began working as a commercial truck driver, hauling freight for various companies. Between January 1998 and October 2014, Wright worked approximately 40 to 60 hours per week, owned his own truck, and maintained a commercial driver’s license. The Wrights did not report James Wright’s work to SSA, and instead formed a company in Josephine Wright’s name to conceal his earnings.
In order to prevent SSA from discovering James Wright’s work activity, the Wrights submitted false documents and made false statements. In 2011, SSA attempted to assess an overpayment to Wright’s record based on the company’s earnings, but Josephine Wright falsely reported that the earnings were not James Wright’s. In March 2014, SSA received a work activity report from Wright, which was completed by James Wright and falsely stated that he was not working.
Had SSA been aware of James Wright’s work activity and earnings, he would not have been qualified to receive the $265,746.60 in disability benefits SSA paid to Josephine Wright between January 1998 and October 2014. As part of their plea agreements, the Wrights have agreed to the entry of a restitution order of $265,746.40.
Josephine Wright faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for theft of government property. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz has scheduled sentencing for December 21, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. James Wright and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement he will be sentenced to 18 months in prison. Judge Motz has scheduled James Wright’s sentencing for December 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation and thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Perry, who is prosecuting the case. The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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