Georgia Truck Driver Pleads Guilty to Disability Fraud
AUGUSTA, GA: In a stark reminder of the fraud epidemic plaguing public assistance programs, Douglas Adam West, 41, of Dexter, Ga., has admitted to working as a truck driver for several years while falsely claiming federal disability benefits.
West now faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to Theft of Government Property, according to David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The fraudulent scheme, which has cost taxpayers $49,863, requires West to pay restitution and serve a supervised release following his sentence.
“Disability fraud is a plague on the system designed to provide a safety net for those truly unable to hold down employment,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Those who abuse that system for their own selfish purposes only make it more difficult for deserving recipients.”
The investigation into West’s deceit began in August 2018 when the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Unit discovered that he had been employed as a truck driver since at least 2015, despite claiming disability benefits since September 2004.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King commended the agencies involved for their cooperation in bringing West to justice. “We are committed to ensuring that public benefits go to those truly in need and will continue to crack down on those who abuse the system,” he said.
The case against West was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Office of the Georgia Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer A. Stanley prosecuting for the United States. West is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen after completing a pre-sentencing investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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