Utah Man Sentenced for $100K Social Security Fraud

Utah authorities have dealt a decisive blow to Social Security fraud with the sentencing of 71-year-old Melvin Roy Hunter. The Salt Lake City resident was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart to serve 14 months’ home detention, part of a 40-month probation sentence, and must pay $105,301.30 in restitution.

Hunter’s transgressions began in September 2015 when he assumed the identity of a deceased individual, utilizing their birth certificate and Social Security number. His deceitful scheme spanned eight years until his arrest in September 2023. During this time, Hunter fraudulently accessed government benefits from various agencies, including the Social Security Administration, Medicare, Medicaid, HUD, SNAP, and CARES Act funds.

According to court documents, Hunter’s fraudulent activities were not limited to financial gain; he even obtained a Utah driver’s license under the deceased’s identity. His audacity reached its peak when he opened a Wells Fargo checking account using this false identity, siphoning funds from the United States.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the United States Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; HUD, Office of Inspector General; the Utah Department of Workforce Services; and the State Bureau of Investigation.

Pursuing justice in this case was Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachiko Jepson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, who successfully prosecuted Hunter.

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