David E. Hunnicutt, Disability Fraud, Georgia 2015

A Macon, Georgia man has been sentenced for his role in a disability fraud scheme.

David E. Hunnicutt, age 58, was sentenced to 12 months and a day imprisonment by the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell, United States District Judge, in Macon, Georgia on September 16, 2015.

Hunnicutt was ordered to pay $273,060.52 in restitution to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and to serve one year on supervised release following imprisonment.

The charges against Hunnicutt stem from his application for disability benefits with the RRB. In 2002, he applied for disability, claiming to have no self-employment. However, an investigation by the RRB Office of Inspector General revealed that Hunnicutt was the incorporator and an active participant in Mid-Georgia Tractor Service, Inc., a domestic profit corporation that provided landscape design, lawn maintenance, and irrigation services.

Hunnicutt was granted disability and received payments from the RRB from 2002 to 2013. He was charged with making a false statement to the RRB in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(3), a federal law that prohibits knowingly and willfully making a false statement to a government agency.

“Disability payments are a great benefit for those who need them, often meaning the difference between making ends meet and facing personal financial ruin,” said United States Attorney Michael Moore. “The system is geared to help those who need it, not serve as a means of additional income for those who are not truly disabled.”

The case was investigated by the Railroad Retirement Board, Office of the Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul McCommon.

Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pam Lightsey at the United States Attorney's Office at 478-752-3511.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/retired-railroad-worker-sentenced-disability-fraud