Jon Devol, Social Security and COVID Relief Fraud, Ohio 2024

DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining Social Security and COVID-19 relief funding in his deceased father’s name.

A 55-year-old Dayton man, Jon Devol, also known as John Atkins, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 15 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining Social Security and COVID-19 relief funding in his deceased father’s name. In total, Devol received nearly $59,000 in Social Security benefits from 2015 until 2020, as well as a $1,200 COVID-19 relief stimulus payment.

According to court documents, Devol impersonated his mother throughout a 30-minute, recorded phone call with the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General in summer 2020. During the call, Devol provided his parents’ Social Security numbers and claimed his father was not deceased.

The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General audit caused the benefit payments to stop in summer 2020. Devol then called the SSA office pretending to be his elderly mother, whom he had fraudulently named as the payee.

As part of his sentence, Devol was ordered to repay the $58,782 to Social Security and $1,200 to the IRS. The U.S. District Court sentenced Devol to 15 months in prison for his crimes. The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry represented the United States in this case.

The case highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing Social Security and COVID-19 relief funding fraud. Devol’s crimes demonstrate the consequences of such actions and serve as a warning to others who may consider similar crimes.

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