James Briant, Making False Statements, Louisiana 2010

A Northshore mortgage broker has been charged with making false statements to the Social Security Administration in order to obtain disability payments.

According to the Bill of Information, James Briant, 68, a resident of Covington, Louisiana and mortgage broker and senior loan officer at Alpha Mortgage, LLC, applied for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration on June 10, 2010, for a back disorder and heart disease. He began receiving monthly disability benefits of approximately $2,370 in December 2011, based on the representation that he was unable to work.

During the time he received disability payments, Briant had an obligation to report any income he made to the SSA. However, he never reported that he was working as a loan officer and mortgage broker at Alpha Mortgage, LLC, earning a salary, from a time unknown, but prior to September 2012, through in or around June 2017.

On December 15, 2015, Briant completed a Social Security Disability form and submitted it to the SSA, an SSA-Form 795, Statement of Claimant. In this statement, he signed and certified, under penalty of perjury, that he had not worked since 2011, knowing full well that this statement was materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans stated that a Bill of Information is merely an accusation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharan E. Lieberman is in charge of the prosecution.

The defendant, James Briant, age 68, of Covington, Louisiana, was charged with making false statements to the Social Security Administration.

Mandatory facts: Defendant/Respondent Full Name: James Briant; Exact Criminal Charges: Making False Statements to the Social Security Administration; City and State: Covington, Louisiana; Exact Date: June 10, 2010; Sentence or Outcome: Currently under investigation and charge; Dollar Amounts: Approximately $2,370 monthly disability benefits.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/northshore-mortgage-broker-charged-making-false-statements-social-security