Hudson’s Robert H. Duquette, 74, has been handed a one-year probation term and ordered to pay $39,984 in restitution for swindling his late mother’s Social Security benefits.
The federal crime occurred after Duquette’s mother, who was receiving widow’s benefits from the SSA, passed away in October 2006. Despite her death, the monthly payments were funneled into an account they jointly held, allowing Duquette to siphon off a staggering $101,250 over seven years.
United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice announced the sentence, which also requires an immediate payment of $12,000 to the Social Security Administration. The theft was reported when Duquette pleaded guilty on October 17, 2016, to one count of Theft of Public Money.
Sentencing was handled by United States District Court Judge Joseph A. DiClerico, Jr. The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation, with Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen Burzycki prosecuting the case.
This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities present in the Social Security system and the repercussions faced by those who exploit it for personal gain.
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Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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