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Joseph Benavente Wusstig, a 59-year-old man from Yigo, Guam, stole $58,248 in Social Security benefits intended for his deceased wife. From September 2018 to December 31, 2023, Wusstig continued to receive and spend the benefits, despite his wife’s passing in August 2018. He used the funds for personal expenses, including ATM withdrawals and purchases at convenience stores, restaurants, and gas stations.
Wusstig had been serving as a representative payee for his wife, but failed to inform the Social Security Administration of her death. Instead, he chose to exploit the situation for personal gain, accessing the funds through a joint account held in their names.
The Social Security Administration paid the disability benefits through direct deposit, unaware of the wife’s passing. Wusstig’s actions constituted a serious breach of trust and a misuse of federal benefit programs.
Wusstig was sentenced to six months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $58,248 in restitution to the Social Security Administration, as well as a $100 special assessment fee. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of Wusstig’s crime and the need to protect the integrity of federal benefit programs.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Guam
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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