Texas Man Sentenced for SSDI Benefits Theft

Texas Man Sentenced for SSDI Benefits Theft

Portland, Maine – A Texas man has been sentenced for stealing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits after concealing his income from the Social Security Administration.

According to court documents, Carroll Freemont Pennell, 69, received $146,829 worth of SSDI benefits to which he was not entitled. Pennell, who was pastor, president, and spiritual leader of the Word of God Fellowship Church in Brunswick, concealed his church salary from the SSA by having the church pay it to his wife.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. Halsey B. Frank, Assistant United States Attorney, said that Pennell’s actions were a betrayal of trust and that he corrupted his church and contributed to the public’s cynical belief that its leaders are hypocrites.

In fashioning his sentence, Judge George Z. Singal observed that Mr. Pennell was as much a thief as someone who pickpockets parishioners. He noted that Pennell’s actions were not only a crime, but also a grave betrayal of the trust placed in him as a leader of the church and the community.

Despite finding that Pennell was not entitled to the benefits, the court was able to award full restitution of $29,512. However, the court’s ability to award full restitution was limited by the five-year statute of limitations.

Pennell was sentenced to 2 years of probation and ordered to pay the restitution. His advanced age and serious health problems were taken into consideration by the court in fashioning his sentence.

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