A convicted felon from Salem, Missouri has been accused of concealing the death of his quadriplegic uncle for at least five years to steal his disability benefits. Brian K. Ditch, 44, is now facing four felony counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of theft of government property, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that Ditch was solely responsible for his uncle’s care beginning in 2008 and kept him locked in his garage and under his control to fraudulently obtain his government benefits. Instead of properly caring for his uncle, Ditch trapped him in the garage for over 24 hours at a time, forcing his uncle ‘to sit in his own urine and feces without the ability to eat or drink,’ the indictment says.
After his uncle’s death around 2019, Ditch concealed his death and the body so that he could continue to receive the money, the indictment says. He told relatives that he had moved his uncle into a nursing home.
His uncle received $9,559 per month in Disability Compensation benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the indictment says. The VA would not have continued to pay had they known Ditch’s uncle was dead, the indictment says. Ditch’s uncle also received a total of $235,210 in Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Retirement Insurance benefits from the Social Security Administration since 2008.
Ditch used the money to buy exotic reptiles, fund lavish vacations, and enrich himself, the indictment says. Salem police officers found the uncle’s partially frozen body in a trash can in March, as well as three shotguns, the indictment says. As a convicted felon, Ditch is barred from possessing firearms.
Ditch is expected to plead not guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Friday.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Related Federal Cases
- Camille Childress, Healthcare Fraud, Missouri 2021 · Maryland
- Bruce Wayne Stephens, Threatening an Attorney, Missouri 2024 · Texas
- David Lee Keithley, Tax Fraud Scheme, Missouri 2016 · Kansas
- Albert William Roberts III, Wire Fraud, Missouri 2007 · Kansas
- Shannon Lee Barlow, Illegal Firearm Possession, Missouri 2015 · Kansas
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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